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Sherlock Holmes #6
袛芯谢懈薪邪褌邪 薪邪 褍卸邪褋邪
袣褉懈屑懈薪邪谢薪懈 褉芯屑邪薪懈
136 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1905
2803 people are currently reading
38876 people want to read
About the author
Arthur Conan Doyle
14.1k听books23.8k听followersSir Arthur Ignatius Conan Doyle was a British writer and physician. He created the character Sherlock Holmes in 1887 for A Study in Scarlet, the first of four novels and fifty-six short stories about Holmes and Dr. Watson. The Sherlock Holmes stories are milestones in the field of crime fiction.
Doyle was a prolific writer. In addition to the Holmes stories, his works include fantasy and science fiction stories about Professor Challenger, and humorous stories about the Napoleonic soldier Brigadier Gerard, as well as plays, romances, poetry, non-fiction, and historical novels. One of Doyle's early short stories, "J. Habakuk Jephson's Statement" (1884), helped to popularise the mystery of the brigantine Mary Celeste, found drifting at sea with no crew member aboard.
Doyle was a prolific writer. In addition to the Holmes stories, his works include fantasy and science fiction stories about Professor Challenger, and humorous stories about the Napoleonic soldier Brigadier Gerard, as well as plays, romances, poetry, non-fiction, and historical novels. One of Doyle's early short stories, "J. Habakuk Jephson's Statement" (1884), helped to popularise the mystery of the brigantine Mary Celeste, found drifting at sea with no crew member aboard.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 2,438 reviews
October 6, 2021
(A) 85% | Extraordinary
Notes: All in all, a volume without a real stand-out story, but the most consistently good of the short story collections so far.
Notes: All in all, a volume without a real stand-out story, but the most consistently good of the short story collections so far.
July 28, 2024
Sherlock is back!
Another excellent collection by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. Amazing to see the legendary detective come back from the land of the dead relatively unscathed. A mixed bag, as always, but with some unique finds that set a difference compared to so many similar stories before. A collection that rivalizes with #4 The Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes, just as good; the latter only winning because of the memorable new characters, that sadly this one didn鈥檛 have.
Go for the Best, consider the Good, whatever the Meh.
The Best :
鈽呪槄鈽呪槄鈽� 鈥淭he Empty House.鈥�
鈽呪槄鈽呪槄鈽� 鈥淐harles Augustus Milverton.鈥� [4.5]
鈽呪槄鈽呪槄鈽� 鈥淭he Missing Three-Quarter.鈥� [4.5]
鈽呪槄鈽呪槄鈽� 鈥淭he Solitary Cyclist.鈥� [4.5]
鈽呪槄鈽呪槄鈽� 鈥淭he Abbey Grange.鈥�
鈽呪槄鈽呪槄鈽� 鈥淭he Golden Pince-Nez.鈥�
The Good :
鈽呪槄鈽呪槅鈽� 鈥淭he Priory School.鈥� [3.5]
鈽呪槄鈽呪槅鈽� 鈥淭he Dancing Men.鈥�
鈽呪槄鈽呪槅鈽� 鈥淭he Six Napoleons.鈥� [2.5]
The Meh :
鈽呪槄鈽嗏槅鈽� 鈥淭he Norwood Builder.鈥� [2.5]
鈽呪槄鈽嗏槅鈽� 鈥淏lack Peter.鈥�
鈽呪槅鈽嗏槅鈽� 鈥淭he Second Stain.鈥� [1.5]
鈽呪槅鈽嗏槅鈽� 鈥淭he Three Students.鈥�
It鈥檚 public domain, you can find it
Still missing, the BBC series.
-----------------------------------------------
PERSONAL NOTE :
[1905] [455p] [Collection] [Recommendable] [Pompey the dog <3]
-----------------------------------------------
鈽呪槄鈽呪槄鈽� 1. A Study in Scarlet [3.5]
鈽呪槄鈽呪槅鈽� 2. The Sign of Four [2.5]
鈽呪槄鈽呪槅鈽� 3. The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes
鈽呪槄鈽呪槄鈽� 4. The Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes [3.5]
鈽呪槄鈽呪槄鈽� 5. The Hound of the Baskervilles
鈽呪槄鈽呪槄鈽� 6. The Return of Sherlock Holmes
鈽呪槄鈽呪槅鈽� 7. The Valley of Fear
鈽呪槄鈽呪槄鈽� 8. His Last Bow [3.5]
鈽呪槄鈽呪槅鈽� 9. The Case-Book of Sherlock Holmes [2.5]
鈽呪槄鈽呪槅鈽� 10. The Complete Sherlock Holmes
-----------------------------------------------
隆Sherlock volvi贸!
Otra excelente colecci贸n por Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. Incre铆ble ver el legendario detective volver de la tierra de los muertos relativamente indemne. Una bolsa mixta, como siempre, pero con algunos hallazgos 煤nicos que marcan la diferencia comparado con tantos otros cuentos similares anteriores. Una colecci贸n que rivaliza con #4 Las Memorias de Sherlock Holmes, igual de bueno; el 煤ltimo s贸lo ganando por los memorables personajes nuevos, que lamentablemente esta no tuvo.
Ir por lo Mejor, considerar lo Bueno, loquesea lo Meh.
Lo Mejor :
鈽呪槄鈽呪槄鈽� "La casa deshabitada."
鈽呪槄鈽呪槄鈽� 鈥淐harles Augustus Milverton." [4.5]
鈽呪槄鈽呪槄鈽� "El tres cuartos desaparecido." [4.5]
鈽呪槄鈽呪槄鈽� "El ciclista solitario." [4.5]
鈽呪槄鈽呪槄鈽� "La granja Abbey."
鈽呪槄鈽呪槄鈽� "Las gafas de oro."
Lo Bueno :
鈽呪槄鈽呪槅鈽� "El colegio Priory." [3.5]
鈽呪槄鈽呪槅鈽� "Los bailarines."
鈽呪槄鈽呪槅鈽� "Los seis napoleones." [2.5]
Lo Meh :
鈽呪槄鈽嗏槅鈽� "El constructor de Norwood." [2.5]
鈽呪槄鈽嗏槅鈽� "La aventura del negro Peter."
鈽呪槅鈽嗏槅鈽� "La segunda mancha." [1.5]
鈽呪槅鈽嗏槅鈽� "Los tres estudiantes."
Es dominio p煤blico, lo pueden encontrar
Queda pendiente, la serie de BBC.
-----------------------------------------------
NOTA PERSONAL :
[1905] [455p] [Colecci贸n] [Recomendable] [Pompeyo el perro <3]
-----------------------------------------------
Another excellent collection by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. Amazing to see the legendary detective come back from the land of the dead relatively unscathed. A mixed bag, as always, but with some unique finds that set a difference compared to so many similar stories before. A collection that rivalizes with #4 The Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes, just as good; the latter only winning because of the memorable new characters, that sadly this one didn鈥檛 have.
Go for the Best, consider the Good, whatever the Meh.
The Best :
鈽呪槄鈽呪槄鈽� 鈥淭he Empty House.鈥�
鈽呪槄鈽呪槄鈽� 鈥淐harles Augustus Milverton.鈥� [4.5]
鈽呪槄鈽呪槄鈽� 鈥淭he Missing Three-Quarter.鈥� [4.5]
鈽呪槄鈽呪槄鈽� 鈥淭he Solitary Cyclist.鈥� [4.5]
鈽呪槄鈽呪槄鈽� 鈥淭he Abbey Grange.鈥�
鈽呪槄鈽呪槄鈽� 鈥淭he Golden Pince-Nez.鈥�
The Good :
鈽呪槄鈽呪槅鈽� 鈥淭he Priory School.鈥� [3.5]
鈽呪槄鈽呪槅鈽� 鈥淭he Dancing Men.鈥�
鈽呪槄鈽呪槅鈽� 鈥淭he Six Napoleons.鈥� [2.5]
The Meh :
鈽呪槄鈽嗏槅鈽� 鈥淭he Norwood Builder.鈥� [2.5]
鈽呪槄鈽嗏槅鈽� 鈥淏lack Peter.鈥�
鈽呪槅鈽嗏槅鈽� 鈥淭he Second Stain.鈥� [1.5]
鈽呪槅鈽嗏槅鈽� 鈥淭he Three Students.鈥�
It鈥檚 public domain, you can find it
Still missing, the BBC series.
-----------------------------------------------
PERSONAL NOTE :
[1905] [455p] [Collection] [Recommendable] [Pompey the dog <3]
-----------------------------------------------
鈽呪槄鈽呪槄鈽� 1. A Study in Scarlet [3.5]
鈽呪槄鈽呪槅鈽� 2. The Sign of Four [2.5]
鈽呪槄鈽呪槅鈽� 3. The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes
鈽呪槄鈽呪槄鈽� 4. The Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes [3.5]
鈽呪槄鈽呪槄鈽� 5. The Hound of the Baskervilles
鈽呪槄鈽呪槄鈽� 6. The Return of Sherlock Holmes
鈽呪槄鈽呪槅鈽� 7. The Valley of Fear
鈽呪槄鈽呪槄鈽� 8. His Last Bow [3.5]
鈽呪槄鈽呪槅鈽� 9. The Case-Book of Sherlock Holmes [2.5]
鈽呪槄鈽呪槅鈽� 10. The Complete Sherlock Holmes
-----------------------------------------------
隆Sherlock volvi贸!
Otra excelente colecci贸n por Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. Incre铆ble ver el legendario detective volver de la tierra de los muertos relativamente indemne. Una bolsa mixta, como siempre, pero con algunos hallazgos 煤nicos que marcan la diferencia comparado con tantos otros cuentos similares anteriores. Una colecci贸n que rivaliza con #4 Las Memorias de Sherlock Holmes, igual de bueno; el 煤ltimo s贸lo ganando por los memorables personajes nuevos, que lamentablemente esta no tuvo.
Ir por lo Mejor, considerar lo Bueno, loquesea lo Meh.
Lo Mejor :
鈽呪槄鈽呪槄鈽� "La casa deshabitada."
鈽呪槄鈽呪槄鈽� 鈥淐harles Augustus Milverton." [4.5]
鈽呪槄鈽呪槄鈽� "El tres cuartos desaparecido." [4.5]
鈽呪槄鈽呪槄鈽� "El ciclista solitario." [4.5]
鈽呪槄鈽呪槄鈽� "La granja Abbey."
鈽呪槄鈽呪槄鈽� "Las gafas de oro."
Lo Bueno :
鈽呪槄鈽呪槅鈽� "El colegio Priory." [3.5]
鈽呪槄鈽呪槅鈽� "Los bailarines."
鈽呪槄鈽呪槅鈽� "Los seis napoleones." [2.5]
Lo Meh :
鈽呪槄鈽嗏槅鈽� "El constructor de Norwood." [2.5]
鈽呪槄鈽嗏槅鈽� "La aventura del negro Peter."
鈽呪槅鈽嗏槅鈽� "La segunda mancha." [1.5]
鈽呪槅鈽嗏槅鈽� "Los tres estudiantes."
Es dominio p煤blico, lo pueden encontrar
Queda pendiente, la serie de BBC.
-----------------------------------------------
NOTA PERSONAL :
[1905] [455p] [Colecci贸n] [Recomendable] [Pompeyo el perro <3]
-----------------------------------------------
December 18, 2021
The Return of Sherlock Holmes (Sherlock Holmes, #6), Arthur Conan Doyle
The Return of Sherlock Holmes is a collection of 13 Sherlock Holmes stories, originally published in 1903-1904, by Arthur Conan Doyle.
Missing, presumed dead, for three years, Sherlock Holmes returns triumphantly to his dear companion Dr Watson. And not before time!
London has never been in more need of his extraordinary services: a murderous individual with an air gun stalks the city.
Among thirteen further brilliant tales of mystery, detection and deduction, Sherlock Holmes investigates the problem of the Norwood Builder, deciphers the message of the Dancing Men, and cracks the case of the Six Napoleons.
The Adventure of the Empty House (the return of Holmes)
The Adventure of the Norwood Builder
The Adventure of the Dancing Men
The Adventure of the Solitary Cyclist
The Adventure of the Priory School
The Adventure of Black Peter
The Adventure of Charles Augustus Milverton
The Adventure of the Six Napoleons
The Adventure of the Three Students
The Adventure of the Golden Pince-Nez
The Adventure of the Missing Three-Quarter
The Adventure of the Abbey Grange
The Adventure of the Second Stain
鬲丕乇蹖禺 賳禺爻鬲蹖賳 禺賵丕賳卮: 乇賵夭 亘蹖爻鬲賲 賲丕賴 丌賵乇蹖賱 爻丕賱2011賲蹖賱丕丿蹖
毓賳賵丕賳賴丕蹖 丿丕爻鬲丕賳賴丕蹖 讴鬲丕亘: 芦賲丕噩乇丕蹖 禺丕賳賴 禺丕賱蹖 (亘丕夭诏卮鬲 賴賵賱賲夭)禄貨 芦賲丕噩乇丕蹖 賲毓賲丕乇 賳賵乇賵賵丿禄貨 芦賲丕噩乇丕蹖 賲乇丿丕賳 乇賯氐丕賳禄貨 芦賲丕噩乇丕蹖 丿賵趩乇禺賴 爻賵丕乇 鬲賳賴丕禄貨 芦賲丕噩乇丕蹖 賲丿乇爻賴 倬乇蹖賵乇蹖禄貨 芦賲丕噩乇丕蹖 倬蹖鬲乇 爻蹖丕賴禄貨 芦賲丕噩乇丕蹖 趩丕乇賱夭 丌诏賵爻鬲賵爻 賲蹖賱賵乇鬲賳禄貨 芦賲丕噩乇丕蹖 卮卮 賳丕倬賱卅賵賳禄貨 芦賲丕噩乇丕蹖 爻賴 丿丕賳卮噩賵禄貨 芦賲丕噩乇丕蹖 毓蹖賳讴 胤賱丕蹖蹖禄貨 芦賲丕噩乇丕蹖 爻賴-趩賴丕乇賲 诏賲卮丿賴禄貨 芦賲丕噩乇丕蹖 丕賻亘賽蹖 诏乇丕賳噩禄貨 芦賲丕噩乇丕蹖 丿賵賲蹖賳 賱讴賴禄貨
亘丕夭诏卮鬲 卮乇賱賵讴 賴賵賱賲夭貨 毓賳賵丕賳 爻蹖夭丿賴 丿丕爻鬲丕賳貙 丕夭 賲丕噩乇丕賴丕蹖 芦卮乇賱賵讴 賴賵賱賲夭禄 丕爻鬲貙 讴賴 賳禺爻鬲蹖賳 亘丕乇 丿乇 爻丕賱鈥屬囏й�1903賲蹖賱丕丿蹖貙 鬲丕 爻丕賱1904賲蹖賱丕丿蹖貙 鬲賵爻胤 芦丌乇鬲賵乇 讴丕賳賳 丿賵蹖賱禄 賲賳鬲卮乇 卮丿貨 丕蹖賳 賳禺爻鬲蹖賳 賲噩賲賵毓賴貙 丕夭 賲丕噩乇丕賴丕蹖 芦賴賵賱賲夭禄 丕爻鬲貙 讴賴 倬爻 丕夭 丿乇诏匕卮鬲 丕蹖卮丕賳貙 丿乇 芦賲丕噩乇丕蹖 賲卮讴賱 賳賴丕蹖蹖禄 賲賳鬲卮乇 卮丿貨
鬲丕乇蹖禺 亘賴賳诏丕賲 乇爻丕賳蹖 20/01/1400賴噩乇蹖 禺賵乇卮蹖丿蹖貨 26/09/1400賴噩乇蹖 禺賵乇卮蹖丿蹖貨 丕. 卮乇亘蹖丕賳蹖
The Return of Sherlock Holmes is a collection of 13 Sherlock Holmes stories, originally published in 1903-1904, by Arthur Conan Doyle.
Missing, presumed dead, for three years, Sherlock Holmes returns triumphantly to his dear companion Dr Watson. And not before time!
London has never been in more need of his extraordinary services: a murderous individual with an air gun stalks the city.
Among thirteen further brilliant tales of mystery, detection and deduction, Sherlock Holmes investigates the problem of the Norwood Builder, deciphers the message of the Dancing Men, and cracks the case of the Six Napoleons.
The Adventure of the Empty House (the return of Holmes)
The Adventure of the Norwood Builder
The Adventure of the Dancing Men
The Adventure of the Solitary Cyclist
The Adventure of the Priory School
The Adventure of Black Peter
The Adventure of Charles Augustus Milverton
The Adventure of the Six Napoleons
The Adventure of the Three Students
The Adventure of the Golden Pince-Nez
The Adventure of the Missing Three-Quarter
The Adventure of the Abbey Grange
The Adventure of the Second Stain
鬲丕乇蹖禺 賳禺爻鬲蹖賳 禺賵丕賳卮: 乇賵夭 亘蹖爻鬲賲 賲丕賴 丌賵乇蹖賱 爻丕賱2011賲蹖賱丕丿蹖
毓賳賵丕賳賴丕蹖 丿丕爻鬲丕賳賴丕蹖 讴鬲丕亘: 芦賲丕噩乇丕蹖 禺丕賳賴 禺丕賱蹖 (亘丕夭诏卮鬲 賴賵賱賲夭)禄貨 芦賲丕噩乇丕蹖 賲毓賲丕乇 賳賵乇賵賵丿禄貨 芦賲丕噩乇丕蹖 賲乇丿丕賳 乇賯氐丕賳禄貨 芦賲丕噩乇丕蹖 丿賵趩乇禺賴 爻賵丕乇 鬲賳賴丕禄貨 芦賲丕噩乇丕蹖 賲丿乇爻賴 倬乇蹖賵乇蹖禄貨 芦賲丕噩乇丕蹖 倬蹖鬲乇 爻蹖丕賴禄貨 芦賲丕噩乇丕蹖 趩丕乇賱夭 丌诏賵爻鬲賵爻 賲蹖賱賵乇鬲賳禄貨 芦賲丕噩乇丕蹖 卮卮 賳丕倬賱卅賵賳禄貨 芦賲丕噩乇丕蹖 爻賴 丿丕賳卮噩賵禄貨 芦賲丕噩乇丕蹖 毓蹖賳讴 胤賱丕蹖蹖禄貨 芦賲丕噩乇丕蹖 爻賴-趩賴丕乇賲 诏賲卮丿賴禄貨 芦賲丕噩乇丕蹖 丕賻亘賽蹖 诏乇丕賳噩禄貨 芦賲丕噩乇丕蹖 丿賵賲蹖賳 賱讴賴禄貨
亘丕夭诏卮鬲 卮乇賱賵讴 賴賵賱賲夭貨 毓賳賵丕賳 爻蹖夭丿賴 丿丕爻鬲丕賳貙 丕夭 賲丕噩乇丕賴丕蹖 芦卮乇賱賵讴 賴賵賱賲夭禄 丕爻鬲貙 讴賴 賳禺爻鬲蹖賳 亘丕乇 丿乇 爻丕賱鈥屬囏й�1903賲蹖賱丕丿蹖貙 鬲丕 爻丕賱1904賲蹖賱丕丿蹖貙 鬲賵爻胤 芦丌乇鬲賵乇 讴丕賳賳 丿賵蹖賱禄 賲賳鬲卮乇 卮丿貨 丕蹖賳 賳禺爻鬲蹖賳 賲噩賲賵毓賴貙 丕夭 賲丕噩乇丕賴丕蹖 芦賴賵賱賲夭禄 丕爻鬲貙 讴賴 倬爻 丕夭 丿乇诏匕卮鬲 丕蹖卮丕賳貙 丿乇 芦賲丕噩乇丕蹖 賲卮讴賱 賳賴丕蹖蹖禄 賲賳鬲卮乇 卮丿貨
鬲丕乇蹖禺 亘賴賳诏丕賲 乇爻丕賳蹖 20/01/1400賴噩乇蹖 禺賵乇卮蹖丿蹖貨 26/09/1400賴噩乇蹖 禺賵乇卮蹖丿蹖貨 丕. 卮乇亘蹖丕賳蹖
August 5, 2020
Es muy diferente escribir por placer que por obligaci贸n.
En realidad 3,4
Para nadie es un secreto que Arthur Conan Doyle estaba harto de Sherlock Holmes. Su creaci贸n, se convirti贸 en un problema porque controlarlo se hac铆a cada vez m谩s dif铆cil y porque usar este personaje lo forzaba a escribir novelas policiacas, genero con el que Arthur se sent铆a inconforme. En ese tiempo, este g茅nero era calificado como literatura barata, por lo que para 茅l, Sherlock Holmes no representaba su mejor literatura. Por ello, la mejor soluci贸n para liberarse de su personaje era matarlo. Tras hacerlo en el relato 鈥淓l problema final鈥�, sus seguidores lo presionaron, amenazaron y criticaron tanto por su decisi贸n, que se sinti贸 forzado a revivirlo. En el primer relato de esta recopilaci贸n 鈥淟a casa vac铆a鈥�, se explica todos los detalles del m茅todo que uso Arthur para realizar la milagrosa resurrecci贸n.
Hasta aqu铆 toda va bien. El problema, comienza cuando empezamos a sentir el desagrado de Arthur por escribir algo por obligaci贸n, por lo que en algunos relatos, espec铆ficamente en cinco, encontraremos historias con argumentos planos, sin emoci贸n y que no transmiten absolutamente nada. Evidentemente tienen detalles destacables, pero en comparaci贸n con los dem谩s relatos poseen un nivel bajo.
Los trece relatos que encontraremos aqu铆 son m谩s extensos que los anteriores y tienen la particularidad de ser casos confidenciales, as铆 lo declara Watson al inicio de cada uno de ellos. Sin embargo, Sherlock le da permiso para que pueda publicarlos, cuando 茅l considera que no hay peligro de afectar a los implicados de la historia mediante su revelaci贸n. Asimismo, en esta recopilaci贸n ser谩 presentado Stanley Hopkins, un inspector que seg煤n Sherlock sigue sus m茅todos y tiene un talento y habilidad que lo pueden llevar a ser un gran especialista en su 谩rea, pero no los quiero enga帽ar, ese personaje es un completo fracaso. Lo 煤nico bueno de Hopkins, es que su presencia y su mediocre habilidad, nos ayuda a recordar que Sherlock solo hay uno.
Sin m谩s pre谩mbulo, y como he venido haciendo en mis anteriores rese帽as de Sherlock Holmes, a continuaci贸n se encuentra la calificaci贸n individual de cada relato, acompa帽ado de la moraleja que me ha dejado cada historia.
1. La casa vac铆a 5/5 猸愶笍
Sinopsis: Se presenta el inexplicable asesinato de Ronald Adair. Watson se acerca a la escena del crimen para observar lo ocurrido.
翱辫颈苍颈贸苍: Excelente. Aunque deber铆a ser un aspecto negativo que la sinopsis, solo sirva de fachada para el verdadero centro de la historia que es la reaparici贸n de Sherlock Holmes, creo que con las estrategias de Sherlock y el comportamiento gracioso y de asombro de Watson, es m谩s que suficiente para excusar la publicidad enga帽osa que nos ofrecen en este relato. Historia para disfrutarla de inicio a fin.
Moraleja: Todas las historias pueden ser alteradas con una simple palabra, de tal manera que lo que hoy parece definitivo, ma帽ana puede sufrir una alteraci贸n.
2. El constructor de Norwood 5/5 猸愶笍
Sinopsis: John McFarlane visita a Sherlock para que lo ayude, ya que es sospechoso de un crimen del que dice ser inocente.
翱辫颈苍颈贸苍: Uno de mis relatos favoritos. Esta historia podr铆a resumirse como 驴John McFarlane es inocente?, 驴es culpable? A pesar de lo simple que parece, es un caso muy interesante con una gran dificultad para resolver y con una sana competencia entre Lestrade y Sherlock para determinar qui茅n tiene la raz贸n. El final no me lo esperaba y qued茅 muy satisfecho con ese rompecabezas muy bien creado y hasta con los comentarios graciosos de Sherlock que de vez en cuando dec铆a.
Moraleja: D茅jate guiar por tu intuici贸n a pesar de que parezca que no tienes raz贸n.
3. Los mu帽ecos danzantes 3/5 猸愶笍
Sinopsis: Hilton Cubitt busca a Sherlock porque est谩 preocupado por el extra帽o comportamiento de su esposa.
翱辫颈苍颈贸苍: Un relato predecible a pesar de las pocas pistas que se presentan, y donde lo m谩s destacado es la capacidad de deducci贸n de Sherlock, dejando impresionado tanto al inspector Martin en la resoluci贸n del caso, como a Watson en el mism铆simo inicio. Sin embargo, siempre es un placer disfrutar del m茅todo deductivo de Sherlock Holmes.
Moraleja: Por m谩s que intentemos sepultar nuestro pasado, en alg煤n momento tendremos que enfrentarlo.
4. La aventura de la ciclista solitaria 1/5 猸愶笍
Sinopsis: La se帽orita Victoria Smith siente que la est谩n persiguiendo en su camino al trabajo y por ello acude a Sherlock para que la ayude con sus preocupaciones.
翱辫颈苍颈贸苍: Relato aburrido y sin emociones porque nunca existi贸 un verdadero misterio, se resuelve todo de forma sencilla y es demasiado irreal. Por este tipo de relatos es que menciono al inicio de la rese帽a, que no es lo mismo escribir por placer que por obligaci贸n.
Moraleja: La creatividad que la mente humana puede tener para lograr sus objetivos es infinita.
5. La aventura del colegio Priory 4/5 猸愶笍
Sinopsis: El profesor Huxtable visita a Sherlock Holmes por la desaparici贸n de su estudiante Lord Saltire de diez a帽os, que es hijo del duque de Holdernesse.
翱辫颈苍颈贸苍: Muy interesante. En este relato s铆 encontramos al Sherlock atrevido que conocemos. Un Sherlock que se fija en los peque帽os detalles, que usa su descarada forma de hablar para desenmascarar al culpable y que con su gran habilidad para interrogar nos deja cautivados y con una sonrisa mordaz en el rostro. Tambi茅n destaco la gran habilidad de enga帽ar y borrar huellas por parte del culpable. Gran relato.
Moraleja: F铆jate en los peque帽os detalles; quiz谩s haci茅ndolo, tendr谩s m谩s posibilidades de solucionar tus problemas.
6. La aventura de Peter el Negro 3/5 猸愶笍
Sinopsis: El inspector Hopkins est谩 confundido por el asesinato de Peter el Negro y por ello requiere del servicio de Sherlock Holmes.
翱辫颈苍颈贸苍: Relato con segmentos similares a otros presentados por el autor que lo vuelve previsible en muchos momentos. Notaremos que Hopkins es un completo fracaso como inspector y que no hay fundamentos para que Sherlock tenga esperanzas en 茅l. Otro punto negativo de este relato es que los sospechosos cuentan la verdad demasiado f谩cil por lo que la participaci贸n de la deducci贸n de Holmes es casi nula.
Moraleja: Sin el uso de la l贸gica, resolver un problema se puede volver imposible.
7. La aventura de Charles Augustus Milverton 5/5 猸愶笍
Sinopsis: Sherlock y Watson reciben una carta del chantajista Charles Augustus Milverton, con el que negociar谩n para evitar el esc谩ndalo de Eva Brackwell.
翱辫颈苍颈贸苍: Excelente. Este es uno de esos relatos que releer铆a decenas de veces y no me cansar铆a nunca. Aqu铆 conoceremos como ser铆a Sherlock en caso de ser un ladr贸n y d茅jenme decirles que esa faceta me encant贸. Verlo emocionado con su kit profesional de ladr贸n, intentando abrir una caja fuerte como si fuera un juguete fue algo muy gracioso y fenomenal. Adem谩s, ese cinismo y ese atrevimiento de incluso ser capaz de comprometerse en matrimonio solo para resolver un caso es algo incre铆ble. Sherlock es un maldito genio.
Moraleja: 驴Qu茅 riesgos estamos dispuestos a afrontar para conseguir nuestros objetivos?
8. Los seis napoleones 2/5 猸愶笍
Sinopsis: De una casual visita que Lestrade hace en Baker Street, empieza una investigaci贸n para averiguar qui茅n est谩 destruyendo unas cer谩micas baratas relacionadas a Napole贸n.
翱辫颈苍颈贸苍: A pesar de la calificaci贸n, debo reconocer que la forma como se presentan los interrogatorios en este relato me pareci贸 muy interesante, pero con el inconveniente de la alta similitud con el relato del Carbunclo Azul, que causa que desde el inicio ya conozcamos el final; sin embargo, la idea en general es aceptable.
Moraleja: Si alguien te quiere comprar algo insignificante por mucho dinero, contr贸late y piensa antes de hacerlo. Quiz谩s ese objeto, tenga m谩s valor de lo que te imaginas.
9. Los tres estudiantes. 2/5 猸愶笍
Sinopsis: Hilton Soames, profesor de una universidad, sospecha que alguno de los candidatos para una beca, ha entrado en su estudio a copiar las respuestas del examen que iban a presentar. Por ello, busca con urgencia a Sherlock Holmes.
翱辫颈苍颈贸苍: Tanto la narraci贸n como la especulaci贸n por conocer el culpable est谩n muy bien trabajadas en este relato. El problema, es que tras leer muchos relatos de este personaje, llegamos al punto de conocer exactamente como Arthur Conan manejar谩 los hilos en la historia; de esa manera, es sencillo deducir que el m谩s sospechoso es inocente y viceversa. Omitiendo ese detalle, el caso es muy interesante y Sherlock lo resuelve con maestr铆a como siempre.
Moraleja: Las tentaciones se nos presentan en el momento menos esperado.
10. Los lentes de oro. 4/5猸愶笍
Sinopsis: Nuevamente Hopkins est谩 atrapado en un caso y necesita de la ayuda de Sherlock Holmes por lo que lo busca en Baker Street.
翱辫颈苍颈贸苍: Genial relato. Detalles como incluir un plano del lugar del crimen, describir una persona con tan solo unos lentes y el toque arrogante de Holmes, hacen de este caso uno muy especial para leer y disfrutar. El desenlace fue inesperado para m铆 y me divert铆 tras las explicaciones finales de Sherlock, porque mientras el inspector Hopkins queda at贸nito ante cada palabra, Watson sin ning煤n problema comprende sus argumentos y asiente sin inmutarse.
Moraleja: El descarte es una gran herramienta que no podemos ignorar al momento de resolver un problema.
11. El delantero desaparecido 5/5 猸愶笍
Sinopsis: Cyril Overton, capit谩n de equipo de rugby de la Universidad de Cambridge, visita a Sherlock preocupado porque su jugador estrella ha desaparecido antes de un juego importante para ellos.
翱辫颈苍颈贸苍: No es frecuente terminar triste despu茅s de leer a Sherlock Holmes pero esta vez s铆 ha ocurrido. Un relato que nos presentar谩 a Leslie Armstrong, un doctor que seg煤n Sherlock tiene la misma inteligencia del profesor Moriarty. Lo mejor es que no es una exageraci贸n, las estrategias de Leslie para escapar de Sherlock son muy buenas y es capaz de predecir cada uno de los movimientos y trampas que nuestro querido detective le deja por el camino. Tambi茅n, disfrutaremos de la recursividad de Sherlock para resolver un problema que parec铆a imposible. Simplemente excelente.
Moraleja: 驴Qu茅 es lo m谩s importante en tu vida?
12. Abbey Grange 2/5 猸愶笍
Sinopsis: Sir Eustace ha muerto y nuevamente el inspector Hopkins pide ayuda a Sherlock porque 茅l no puede aclarar los hechos.
翱辫颈苍颈贸苍: Un caso m谩s el cual tiene similitudes con otros relatos anteriores. En este relato fue donde definitivamente entend铆, que Hopkins es un completo inepto y que por ninguna parte tiene cualidades de detective: Se deja enga帽ar f谩cilmente, se frustra permanentemente, es imprudente e incluso es p茅simo razonando y usando la l贸gica. En cuanto al asesinato estuvo bien la explicaci贸n y el desarrollo, pero nuevamente fue predecible.
Moraleja: Por amor somos capaces de todo, hasta de asesinar.
13. La segunda mancha 4/5 猸愶笍
Sinopsis: Una carta que podr铆a causar una guerra ha desaparecido y por ello Lord Bellinger y el ministro Trelawney, le encargan la tarea de encontrarla a Sherlock Holmes.
翱辫颈苍颈贸苍: Como era de esperar, el 煤ltimo relato del libro fue muy bueno. Aunque todos los casos donde Sherlock participa son importantes, en este la responsabilidad es tan grande, que de su eficiencia en encontrar una carta depender谩 que se lleve a cabo una guerra entre dos naciones. Lo curioso, es que para Sherlock est谩 presi贸n no existe y sigue tom谩ndose todo con esa tranquilidad que lo caracteriza siempre. Lo mejor sin ninguna duda es la forma como Holmes manipula a todos los personajes y tambi茅n el uso de una doble historia para explicar los acontecimientos. He quedado sorprendido con la revelaci贸n de Watson, donde afirma que Sherlock se ha retirado y se ha dedicado a la apicultura. Eso no me lo esperaba.
Moraleja: Confunde y vencer谩s.
Y bien, eso ha sido todo. He disfrutado la compa帽铆a de Sherlock y Watson en estos relatos y espero seguir haci茅ndolo cuando lea El valle del terror, mi pr贸ximo destino.
En realidad 3,4
Para nadie es un secreto que Arthur Conan Doyle estaba harto de Sherlock Holmes. Su creaci贸n, se convirti贸 en un problema porque controlarlo se hac铆a cada vez m谩s dif铆cil y porque usar este personaje lo forzaba a escribir novelas policiacas, genero con el que Arthur se sent铆a inconforme. En ese tiempo, este g茅nero era calificado como literatura barata, por lo que para 茅l, Sherlock Holmes no representaba su mejor literatura. Por ello, la mejor soluci贸n para liberarse de su personaje era matarlo. Tras hacerlo en el relato 鈥淓l problema final鈥�, sus seguidores lo presionaron, amenazaron y criticaron tanto por su decisi贸n, que se sinti贸 forzado a revivirlo. En el primer relato de esta recopilaci贸n 鈥淟a casa vac铆a鈥�, se explica todos los detalles del m茅todo que uso Arthur para realizar la milagrosa resurrecci贸n.
Hasta aqu铆 toda va bien. El problema, comienza cuando empezamos a sentir el desagrado de Arthur por escribir algo por obligaci贸n, por lo que en algunos relatos, espec铆ficamente en cinco, encontraremos historias con argumentos planos, sin emoci贸n y que no transmiten absolutamente nada. Evidentemente tienen detalles destacables, pero en comparaci贸n con los dem谩s relatos poseen un nivel bajo.
Los trece relatos que encontraremos aqu铆 son m谩s extensos que los anteriores y tienen la particularidad de ser casos confidenciales, as铆 lo declara Watson al inicio de cada uno de ellos. Sin embargo, Sherlock le da permiso para que pueda publicarlos, cuando 茅l considera que no hay peligro de afectar a los implicados de la historia mediante su revelaci贸n. Asimismo, en esta recopilaci贸n ser谩 presentado Stanley Hopkins, un inspector que seg煤n Sherlock sigue sus m茅todos y tiene un talento y habilidad que lo pueden llevar a ser un gran especialista en su 谩rea, pero no los quiero enga帽ar, ese personaje es un completo fracaso. Lo 煤nico bueno de Hopkins, es que su presencia y su mediocre habilidad, nos ayuda a recordar que Sherlock solo hay uno.
Sin m谩s pre谩mbulo, y como he venido haciendo en mis anteriores rese帽as de Sherlock Holmes, a continuaci贸n se encuentra la calificaci贸n individual de cada relato, acompa帽ado de la moraleja que me ha dejado cada historia.
1. La casa vac铆a 5/5 猸愶笍
Sinopsis: Se presenta el inexplicable asesinato de Ronald Adair. Watson se acerca a la escena del crimen para observar lo ocurrido.
翱辫颈苍颈贸苍: Excelente. Aunque deber铆a ser un aspecto negativo que la sinopsis, solo sirva de fachada para el verdadero centro de la historia que es la reaparici贸n de Sherlock Holmes, creo que con las estrategias de Sherlock y el comportamiento gracioso y de asombro de Watson, es m谩s que suficiente para excusar la publicidad enga帽osa que nos ofrecen en este relato. Historia para disfrutarla de inicio a fin.
Moraleja: Todas las historias pueden ser alteradas con una simple palabra, de tal manera que lo que hoy parece definitivo, ma帽ana puede sufrir una alteraci贸n.
2. El constructor de Norwood 5/5 猸愶笍
Sinopsis: John McFarlane visita a Sherlock para que lo ayude, ya que es sospechoso de un crimen del que dice ser inocente.
翱辫颈苍颈贸苍: Uno de mis relatos favoritos. Esta historia podr铆a resumirse como 驴John McFarlane es inocente?, 驴es culpable? A pesar de lo simple que parece, es un caso muy interesante con una gran dificultad para resolver y con una sana competencia entre Lestrade y Sherlock para determinar qui茅n tiene la raz贸n. El final no me lo esperaba y qued茅 muy satisfecho con ese rompecabezas muy bien creado y hasta con los comentarios graciosos de Sherlock que de vez en cuando dec铆a.
Moraleja: D茅jate guiar por tu intuici贸n a pesar de que parezca que no tienes raz贸n.
3. Los mu帽ecos danzantes 3/5 猸愶笍
Sinopsis: Hilton Cubitt busca a Sherlock porque est谩 preocupado por el extra帽o comportamiento de su esposa.
翱辫颈苍颈贸苍: Un relato predecible a pesar de las pocas pistas que se presentan, y donde lo m谩s destacado es la capacidad de deducci贸n de Sherlock, dejando impresionado tanto al inspector Martin en la resoluci贸n del caso, como a Watson en el mism铆simo inicio. Sin embargo, siempre es un placer disfrutar del m茅todo deductivo de Sherlock Holmes.
Moraleja: Por m谩s que intentemos sepultar nuestro pasado, en alg煤n momento tendremos que enfrentarlo.
4. La aventura de la ciclista solitaria 1/5 猸愶笍
Sinopsis: La se帽orita Victoria Smith siente que la est谩n persiguiendo en su camino al trabajo y por ello acude a Sherlock para que la ayude con sus preocupaciones.
翱辫颈苍颈贸苍: Relato aburrido y sin emociones porque nunca existi贸 un verdadero misterio, se resuelve todo de forma sencilla y es demasiado irreal. Por este tipo de relatos es que menciono al inicio de la rese帽a, que no es lo mismo escribir por placer que por obligaci贸n.
Moraleja: La creatividad que la mente humana puede tener para lograr sus objetivos es infinita.
5. La aventura del colegio Priory 4/5 猸愶笍
Sinopsis: El profesor Huxtable visita a Sherlock Holmes por la desaparici贸n de su estudiante Lord Saltire de diez a帽os, que es hijo del duque de Holdernesse.
翱辫颈苍颈贸苍: Muy interesante. En este relato s铆 encontramos al Sherlock atrevido que conocemos. Un Sherlock que se fija en los peque帽os detalles, que usa su descarada forma de hablar para desenmascarar al culpable y que con su gran habilidad para interrogar nos deja cautivados y con una sonrisa mordaz en el rostro. Tambi茅n destaco la gran habilidad de enga帽ar y borrar huellas por parte del culpable. Gran relato.
Moraleja: F铆jate en los peque帽os detalles; quiz谩s haci茅ndolo, tendr谩s m谩s posibilidades de solucionar tus problemas.
6. La aventura de Peter el Negro 3/5 猸愶笍
Sinopsis: El inspector Hopkins est谩 confundido por el asesinato de Peter el Negro y por ello requiere del servicio de Sherlock Holmes.
翱辫颈苍颈贸苍: Relato con segmentos similares a otros presentados por el autor que lo vuelve previsible en muchos momentos. Notaremos que Hopkins es un completo fracaso como inspector y que no hay fundamentos para que Sherlock tenga esperanzas en 茅l. Otro punto negativo de este relato es que los sospechosos cuentan la verdad demasiado f谩cil por lo que la participaci贸n de la deducci贸n de Holmes es casi nula.
Moraleja: Sin el uso de la l贸gica, resolver un problema se puede volver imposible.
7. La aventura de Charles Augustus Milverton 5/5 猸愶笍
Sinopsis: Sherlock y Watson reciben una carta del chantajista Charles Augustus Milverton, con el que negociar谩n para evitar el esc谩ndalo de Eva Brackwell.
翱辫颈苍颈贸苍: Excelente. Este es uno de esos relatos que releer铆a decenas de veces y no me cansar铆a nunca. Aqu铆 conoceremos como ser铆a Sherlock en caso de ser un ladr贸n y d茅jenme decirles que esa faceta me encant贸. Verlo emocionado con su kit profesional de ladr贸n, intentando abrir una caja fuerte como si fuera un juguete fue algo muy gracioso y fenomenal. Adem谩s, ese cinismo y ese atrevimiento de incluso ser capaz de comprometerse en matrimonio solo para resolver un caso es algo incre铆ble. Sherlock es un maldito genio.
Moraleja: 驴Qu茅 riesgos estamos dispuestos a afrontar para conseguir nuestros objetivos?
8. Los seis napoleones 2/5 猸愶笍
Sinopsis: De una casual visita que Lestrade hace en Baker Street, empieza una investigaci贸n para averiguar qui茅n est谩 destruyendo unas cer谩micas baratas relacionadas a Napole贸n.
翱辫颈苍颈贸苍: A pesar de la calificaci贸n, debo reconocer que la forma como se presentan los interrogatorios en este relato me pareci贸 muy interesante, pero con el inconveniente de la alta similitud con el relato del Carbunclo Azul, que causa que desde el inicio ya conozcamos el final; sin embargo, la idea en general es aceptable.
Moraleja: Si alguien te quiere comprar algo insignificante por mucho dinero, contr贸late y piensa antes de hacerlo. Quiz谩s ese objeto, tenga m谩s valor de lo que te imaginas.
9. Los tres estudiantes. 2/5 猸愶笍
Sinopsis: Hilton Soames, profesor de una universidad, sospecha que alguno de los candidatos para una beca, ha entrado en su estudio a copiar las respuestas del examen que iban a presentar. Por ello, busca con urgencia a Sherlock Holmes.
翱辫颈苍颈贸苍: Tanto la narraci贸n como la especulaci贸n por conocer el culpable est谩n muy bien trabajadas en este relato. El problema, es que tras leer muchos relatos de este personaje, llegamos al punto de conocer exactamente como Arthur Conan manejar谩 los hilos en la historia; de esa manera, es sencillo deducir que el m谩s sospechoso es inocente y viceversa. Omitiendo ese detalle, el caso es muy interesante y Sherlock lo resuelve con maestr铆a como siempre.
Moraleja: Las tentaciones se nos presentan en el momento menos esperado.
10. Los lentes de oro. 4/5猸愶笍
Sinopsis: Nuevamente Hopkins est谩 atrapado en un caso y necesita de la ayuda de Sherlock Holmes por lo que lo busca en Baker Street.
翱辫颈苍颈贸苍: Genial relato. Detalles como incluir un plano del lugar del crimen, describir una persona con tan solo unos lentes y el toque arrogante de Holmes, hacen de este caso uno muy especial para leer y disfrutar. El desenlace fue inesperado para m铆 y me divert铆 tras las explicaciones finales de Sherlock, porque mientras el inspector Hopkins queda at贸nito ante cada palabra, Watson sin ning煤n problema comprende sus argumentos y asiente sin inmutarse.
Moraleja: El descarte es una gran herramienta que no podemos ignorar al momento de resolver un problema.
11. El delantero desaparecido 5/5 猸愶笍
Sinopsis: Cyril Overton, capit谩n de equipo de rugby de la Universidad de Cambridge, visita a Sherlock preocupado porque su jugador estrella ha desaparecido antes de un juego importante para ellos.
翱辫颈苍颈贸苍: No es frecuente terminar triste despu茅s de leer a Sherlock Holmes pero esta vez s铆 ha ocurrido. Un relato que nos presentar谩 a Leslie Armstrong, un doctor que seg煤n Sherlock tiene la misma inteligencia del profesor Moriarty. Lo mejor es que no es una exageraci贸n, las estrategias de Leslie para escapar de Sherlock son muy buenas y es capaz de predecir cada uno de los movimientos y trampas que nuestro querido detective le deja por el camino. Tambi茅n, disfrutaremos de la recursividad de Sherlock para resolver un problema que parec铆a imposible. Simplemente excelente.
Moraleja: 驴Qu茅 es lo m谩s importante en tu vida?
12. Abbey Grange 2/5 猸愶笍
Sinopsis: Sir Eustace ha muerto y nuevamente el inspector Hopkins pide ayuda a Sherlock porque 茅l no puede aclarar los hechos.
翱辫颈苍颈贸苍: Un caso m谩s el cual tiene similitudes con otros relatos anteriores. En este relato fue donde definitivamente entend铆, que Hopkins es un completo inepto y que por ninguna parte tiene cualidades de detective: Se deja enga帽ar f谩cilmente, se frustra permanentemente, es imprudente e incluso es p茅simo razonando y usando la l贸gica. En cuanto al asesinato estuvo bien la explicaci贸n y el desarrollo, pero nuevamente fue predecible.
Moraleja: Por amor somos capaces de todo, hasta de asesinar.
13. La segunda mancha 4/5 猸愶笍
Sinopsis: Una carta que podr铆a causar una guerra ha desaparecido y por ello Lord Bellinger y el ministro Trelawney, le encargan la tarea de encontrarla a Sherlock Holmes.
翱辫颈苍颈贸苍: Como era de esperar, el 煤ltimo relato del libro fue muy bueno. Aunque todos los casos donde Sherlock participa son importantes, en este la responsabilidad es tan grande, que de su eficiencia en encontrar una carta depender谩 que se lleve a cabo una guerra entre dos naciones. Lo curioso, es que para Sherlock est谩 presi贸n no existe y sigue tom谩ndose todo con esa tranquilidad que lo caracteriza siempre. Lo mejor sin ninguna duda es la forma como Holmes manipula a todos los personajes y tambi茅n el uso de una doble historia para explicar los acontecimientos. He quedado sorprendido con la revelaci贸n de Watson, donde afirma que Sherlock se ha retirado y se ha dedicado a la apicultura. Eso no me lo esperaba.
Moraleja: Confunde y vencer谩s.
Y bien, eso ha sido todo. He disfrutado la compa帽铆a de Sherlock y Watson en estos relatos y espero seguir haci茅ndolo cuando lea El valle del terror, mi pr贸ximo destino.
May 22, 2023
I believe I've read all the Sherlock Holmes's stories now. This series includes a few gems and overall is very good. I love Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson and their interactions; although I think Watson puts up with quite a lot of condescending statements from the genius of crime solving.
Some of my favorites are ones I've read over and over, like "The Beeches" and "The Speckled Band" which are his earlier ones and are not in this collection which take place after Sherlock Holmes's return to life.
Some of my favorites are ones I've read over and over, like "The Beeches" and "The Speckled Band" which are his earlier ones and are not in this collection which take place after Sherlock Holmes's return to life.
April 15, 2021
I will complete my thoughts tomorrow
As with other collections of short stories, I am now giving a quick update on all the stories, so ....
The Empty House
The wonderfully dramatic return of Sherlock and the capture of Moriarty's right hand man
The Norwood Builder
A man with a grudge tries to frame the son of the woman who spurned him. Sherlock flushes him out of hiding literally
The Dancing Men
One of my favourite short stories involving childish stick figures that convey messages to a woman who thought her past was behind her.
The Solitary Cyclist
Working as a tutor at a house in the country entails Miss Violet Smith cycling alone across a moorland twice a week, but who is the man with a beard following her, and what has happened to the odious Mr Woodley.
The Priory School
The Duke of Holdernesse's son goes missing from his school but was followed by a German master on a bicycle, can this be true. Holmes plays bloodhound following tracks across the heathland but is too late to prevent a fatality.
Black Peter
Holmes spends a day stabbing a pig with a harpoon, whilst Inspector Hopkins investigates the murder of the terror, that is Black Peter. First suspect is the son of a disgraced banker, is he lying or was Black Peter already dead.
Charles Augustus Milverton
Holmes is called in to be the intermediary in a blackmail scam with the odious Charles Augustus Milverton . Unable to secure the documents in question, Holmes resorts to plan B, but all doesn't go to plan.
The Six Napoleons
Lestrade starts Holmes on what appears to be a criminal fixated on Napoleon. What does this person have against the Emperor. However what starts as a joke soon turns serious with a murder thrown in.
The Three Students
Temporarily residing in one of Englands great University towns (hmm, I wonder which one), Holmes is called in when a professor realises the exam paper he has set, has been read by one of the students.
The Golden Pince-Nez
During a wild tempestuous November night in 1894, Inspector Hopkins braves the weather to call on Holmes and Watson. Professor Coran's assistant has been murdered at Yoxley Old Place, but not before imparting his dying words of "the Professor, it was she".
The Missing Three-Quarter
The captain of the Cambridge University Rugby team calls on Holmes when his star player goes missing just days before the Varsity match. Holmes is soon on the trail but has he met his match.
The Abbey Grange
Watson is awakened early one Winter morning in 1897 and thanks to Holmes is on his way to Kent even before the dawn. Insp Hopkins needs their help in particularly nasty murder, but he solves it before they arrive, or has he ?
The Second Stain
And so Watson relates the very last story of his good friend and companion, Sherlock Holmes. Well Sir ACD tried again to make it Holmes' last story, but we know again that didn't work.
In this story Holmes is approached by senior members of the government in yet another missing document story. Only 3 people could handle a stolen document of such import and coincidentally one of them is killed shortly after. But where is the document ? And why has the rug been moved ?
A truly wonderful collection that demonstrates that Sir ACD, really is a (the ?) master of the short story
As with other collections of short stories, I am now giving a quick update on all the stories, so ....
The Empty House
The wonderfully dramatic return of Sherlock and the capture of Moriarty's right hand man
The Norwood Builder
A man with a grudge tries to frame the son of the woman who spurned him. Sherlock flushes him out of hiding literally
The Dancing Men
One of my favourite short stories involving childish stick figures that convey messages to a woman who thought her past was behind her.
The Solitary Cyclist
Working as a tutor at a house in the country entails Miss Violet Smith cycling alone across a moorland twice a week, but who is the man with a beard following her, and what has happened to the odious Mr Woodley.
The Priory School
The Duke of Holdernesse's son goes missing from his school but was followed by a German master on a bicycle, can this be true. Holmes plays bloodhound following tracks across the heathland but is too late to prevent a fatality.
Black Peter
Holmes spends a day stabbing a pig with a harpoon, whilst Inspector Hopkins investigates the murder of the terror, that is Black Peter. First suspect is the son of a disgraced banker, is he lying or was Black Peter already dead.
Charles Augustus Milverton
Holmes is called in to be the intermediary in a blackmail scam with the odious Charles Augustus Milverton . Unable to secure the documents in question, Holmes resorts to plan B, but all doesn't go to plan.
The Six Napoleons
Lestrade starts Holmes on what appears to be a criminal fixated on Napoleon. What does this person have against the Emperor. However what starts as a joke soon turns serious with a murder thrown in.
The Three Students
Temporarily residing in one of Englands great University towns (hmm, I wonder which one), Holmes is called in when a professor realises the exam paper he has set, has been read by one of the students.
The Golden Pince-Nez
During a wild tempestuous November night in 1894, Inspector Hopkins braves the weather to call on Holmes and Watson. Professor Coran's assistant has been murdered at Yoxley Old Place, but not before imparting his dying words of "the Professor, it was she".
The Missing Three-Quarter
The captain of the Cambridge University Rugby team calls on Holmes when his star player goes missing just days before the Varsity match. Holmes is soon on the trail but has he met his match.
The Abbey Grange
Watson is awakened early one Winter morning in 1897 and thanks to Holmes is on his way to Kent even before the dawn. Insp Hopkins needs their help in particularly nasty murder, but he solves it before they arrive, or has he ?
The Second Stain
And so Watson relates the very last story of his good friend and companion, Sherlock Holmes. Well Sir ACD tried again to make it Holmes' last story, but we know again that didn't work.
In this story Holmes is approached by senior members of the government in yet another missing document story. Only 3 people could handle a stolen document of such import and coincidentally one of them is killed shortly after. But where is the document ? And why has the rug been moved ?
A truly wonderful collection that demonstrates that Sir ACD, really is a (the ?) master of the short story
April 14, 2025
4.5 猸愶笍
鈥炐斝拘恍感叫把傂� 薪邪 褍卸邪褋邪鈥� 械 屑薪芯谐芯 褋懈谢薪邪 懈 屑褉邪褔薪邪 泻褉懈屑懈薪邪谢薪邪 懈褋褌芯褉懈褟! 孝芯胁邪 械 锌芯褋谢械写薪懈褟褌 褉芯屑邪薪 蟹邪 谢械谐械薪写邪褉薪懈褌械 芯斜褉邪蟹懈 啸芯谢屑褋 懈 校芯褌褋褗薪. 孝芯泄 褋械 褋褗褋褌芯懈 芯褌 写胁械 胁锌械褔邪褌谢褟胁邪褖懈 褋褞卸械褌薪懈 谢懈薪懈懈, 泻邪褌芯 胁 锌褗褉胁邪褌邪 锌褉芯褋谢械写褟胁邪屑械 褉邪蟹褋谢械写胁邪薪械褌芯 薪邪 啸芯谢屑褋 薪邪 邪斜褋芯谢褞褌薪芯 屑懈褋褌械褉懈芯蟹薪芯 褍斜懈泄褋褌胁芯, 邪 锌褗泻 胁褗胁 胁褌芯褉邪褌邪 薪邪褍褔邪胁邪屑械 泻邪泻胁懈 褋褗斜懈褌懈褟 褋邪 褋械 褋谢褍褔懈谢懈 胁 小袗些 20 谐芯写懈薪懈 锌芯-褉邪薪芯 胁 小袗些 胁 褋褌褉邪褏芯胁懈褌芯 褌邪泄薪芯 芯斜褖械褋褌胁芯 芯褌 褍斜懈泄褑懈...
鈥炐澬靶貉€邪褟 褌芯泄 蟹邪锌邪谢懈 谢褍谢邪褌邪 褋懈, 褉邪蟹锌芯谢芯卸懈 褋械 褍褞褌薪芯 泻褉邪泄 芯谐薪懈褖械褌芯 薪邪 褋械谢褋泻邪褌邪 褋褌褉邪薪薪芯锌褉懈械屑薪懈褑邪 懈 蟹邪锌芯褔薪邪 写邪 谐芯胁芯褉懈 斜邪胁薪芯 懈 芯褌泻褗褋谢械褔薪芯 蟹邪 褉邪蟹褋谢械写胁邪薪懈褟 褋谢褍褔邪泄, 锌芯-褋泻芯褉芯 褋褟泻邪褕 褉邪蟹褋褗卸写邪胁邪褕械 薪邪 谐谢邪褋, 胁屑械褋褌芯 写邪 懈蟹谢邪谐邪 芯斜屑懈褋谢械薪芯褌芯 褋懈 屑薪械薪懈械.
鈥� 孝芯胁邪, 泻芯械褌芯 薪懈 锌芯褋褉械褖薪邪 芯褖械 芯褌 锌褉邪谐邪, 校芯褌褋褗薪, 械 械写薪邪 谢褗卸邪. 袨谐褉芯屑薪邪, 褟胁薪邪, 芯褔械胁懈写薪邪, 薪邪褏邪谢薪邪, 斜械蟹褋锌芯褉薪邪 谢褗卸邪! 孝褟 械 芯褌锌褉邪胁薪邪褌邪 薪懈 褌芯褔泻邪. 笑褟谢邪褌邪 懈褋褌芯褉懈褟, 褉邪蟹泻邪蟹邪薪邪 芯褌 袘邪褉泻褗褉, 械 谢褗卸邪. 袧芯 懈褋褌芯褉懈褟褌邪 薪邪 袘邪褉泻褗褉 褋械 锌芯褌胁褗褉卸写邪胁邪 懈 芯褌 谐芯褋锌芯卸邪 袛褗谐谢邪褋. 小谢械写芯胁邪褌械谢薪芯 懈 写胁邪屑邪褌邪 褋邪 褋械 薪邪谐芯胁芯褉懈谢懈 写邪 谢褗卸邪褌. 孝邪泻邪 褔械 褋械谐邪 胁褗锌褉芯褋褗褌 褋械 懈蟹褟褋薪褟胁邪. 袟邪褖芯 谢褗卸邪褌, 泻邪泻胁邪 械 懈褋褌懈薪邪褌邪, 泻芯褟褌芯 褌芯谢泻芯胁邪 褋械 屑褗褔邪褌 写邪 褋泻褉懈褟褌? 袧械泻邪 褋械 芯锌懈褌邪屑械, 校芯褌褋褗薪, 薪械泻邪 胁懈械 懈 邪蟹 褋械 芯锌懈褌邪屑械 写邪 薪邪写薪懈泻薪械屑 蟹邪写 谢褗卸邪褌邪 懈 写邪 胁褗蟹褋褌邪薪芯胁懈屑 懈褋褌懈薪邪褌邪...鈥�
鈥炐斝拘恍感叫把傂� 薪邪 褍卸邪褋邪鈥� 械 屑薪芯谐芯 褋懈谢薪邪 懈 屑褉邪褔薪邪 泻褉懈屑懈薪邪谢薪邪 懈褋褌芯褉懈褟! 孝芯胁邪 械 锌芯褋谢械写薪懈褟褌 褉芯屑邪薪 蟹邪 谢械谐械薪写邪褉薪懈褌械 芯斜褉邪蟹懈 啸芯谢屑褋 懈 校芯褌褋褗薪. 孝芯泄 褋械 褋褗褋褌芯懈 芯褌 写胁械 胁锌械褔邪褌谢褟胁邪褖懈 褋褞卸械褌薪懈 谢懈薪懈懈, 泻邪褌芯 胁 锌褗褉胁邪褌邪 锌褉芯褋谢械写褟胁邪屑械 褉邪蟹褋谢械写胁邪薪械褌芯 薪邪 啸芯谢屑褋 薪邪 邪斜褋芯谢褞褌薪芯 屑懈褋褌械褉懈芯蟹薪芯 褍斜懈泄褋褌胁芯, 邪 锌褗泻 胁褗胁 胁褌芯褉邪褌邪 薪邪褍褔邪胁邪屑械 泻邪泻胁懈 褋褗斜懈褌懈褟 褋邪 褋械 褋谢褍褔懈谢懈 胁 小袗些 20 谐芯写懈薪懈 锌芯-褉邪薪芯 胁 小袗些 胁 褋褌褉邪褏芯胁懈褌芯 褌邪泄薪芯 芯斜褖械褋褌胁芯 芯褌 褍斜懈泄褑懈...
鈥炐澬靶貉€邪褟 褌芯泄 蟹邪锌邪谢懈 谢褍谢邪褌邪 褋懈, 褉邪蟹锌芯谢芯卸懈 褋械 褍褞褌薪芯 泻褉邪泄 芯谐薪懈褖械褌芯 薪邪 褋械谢褋泻邪褌邪 褋褌褉邪薪薪芯锌褉懈械屑薪懈褑邪 懈 蟹邪锌芯褔薪邪 写邪 谐芯胁芯褉懈 斜邪胁薪芯 懈 芯褌泻褗褋谢械褔薪芯 蟹邪 褉邪蟹褋谢械写胁邪薪懈褟 褋谢褍褔邪泄, 锌芯-褋泻芯褉芯 褋褟泻邪褕 褉邪蟹褋褗卸写邪胁邪褕械 薪邪 谐谢邪褋, 胁屑械褋褌芯 写邪 懈蟹谢邪谐邪 芯斜屑懈褋谢械薪芯褌芯 褋懈 屑薪械薪懈械.
鈥� 孝芯胁邪, 泻芯械褌芯 薪懈 锌芯褋褉械褖薪邪 芯褖械 芯褌 锌褉邪谐邪, 校芯褌褋褗薪, 械 械写薪邪 谢褗卸邪. 袨谐褉芯屑薪邪, 褟胁薪邪, 芯褔械胁懈写薪邪, 薪邪褏邪谢薪邪, 斜械蟹褋锌芯褉薪邪 谢褗卸邪! 孝褟 械 芯褌锌褉邪胁薪邪褌邪 薪懈 褌芯褔泻邪. 笑褟谢邪褌邪 懈褋褌芯褉懈褟, 褉邪蟹泻邪蟹邪薪邪 芯褌 袘邪褉泻褗褉, 械 谢褗卸邪. 袧芯 懈褋褌芯褉懈褟褌邪 薪邪 袘邪褉泻褗褉 褋械 锌芯褌胁褗褉卸写邪胁邪 懈 芯褌 谐芯褋锌芯卸邪 袛褗谐谢邪褋. 小谢械写芯胁邪褌械谢薪芯 懈 写胁邪屑邪褌邪 褋邪 褋械 薪邪谐芯胁芯褉懈谢懈 写邪 谢褗卸邪褌. 孝邪泻邪 褔械 褋械谐邪 胁褗锌褉芯褋褗褌 褋械 懈蟹褟褋薪褟胁邪. 袟邪褖芯 谢褗卸邪褌, 泻邪泻胁邪 械 懈褋褌懈薪邪褌邪, 泻芯褟褌芯 褌芯谢泻芯胁邪 褋械 屑褗褔邪褌 写邪 褋泻褉懈褟褌? 袧械泻邪 褋械 芯锌懈褌邪屑械, 校芯褌褋褗薪, 薪械泻邪 胁懈械 懈 邪蟹 褋械 芯锌懈褌邪屑械 写邪 薪邪写薪懈泻薪械屑 蟹邪写 谢褗卸邪褌邪 懈 写邪 胁褗蟹褋褌邪薪芯胁懈屑 懈褋褌懈薪邪褌邪...鈥�
April 8, 2023
Note, April 7, 2023: When I read short story collections intermittently over a long period of time, my reactions are similarly written piecemeal, while they're fresh in my mind. That gives the reviews a choppy, and often repetitive, quality. I'm now trying to go back and edit some of those done in the past, to condense and rearrange them into unified wholes. Accordingly, I've now edited this one.
I suspect that I read this collection, and some of the other Holmes collections in addition to the first as well, as a kid, since here I had the experience (not for the first time, in reading these books!) of recognizing a passage of dialogue I'd read before. I definitely recall that my reading of The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, back in the mists of childhood, set me to hunting up and reading every Sherlock Holmes book I could find. Only the titles of the first collection and the four novels stayed in my memory; but given my tendency to forget title information for books I read in those days, it's quite likely I read all, or at least much more, of the canon at that age than I specifically remembered!
Collecting 13 Sherlock Holmes tales which originally appeared in The Strand magazine from Oct. 1903 to Jan. 1905, and published in book form in 1905, this is the third of Doyle's five story collections featuring Holmes, the second one being . Indeed, the lead story here, "The Adventure of the Empty House," is essentially a sequel to the last story in the previous collection, "The Adventure of the Final Problem." (In all of these collections, the arrangement of the stories is apparently in the order they were written.) The former story is one of two here that I definitely remembered already reading; the other is "The Adventure of Charles Augustus Milverton," which is one of my favorite stories in the Holmes canon, though hard to discuss without a spoiler. (It was adapted for the PBS Mystery! TV series, starring Jeremy Brett, as "The Master Blackmailer;" I can recommend that version, but it does flesh out the original with significant added material.)
I would say that stylistically, the stories here are typical of the Holmes corpus --which is to say, very readable, flowing well, with appropriate levels of description and character development, posing challenging intellectual puzzles that call forth satisfying displays of deduction, often with atmospheric and Gothic touches, and with inherent emotional impact and sometimes thought-provoking situations. Holmes' character dominates the book, and he's definitely one of the genre's most individual and memorable sleuths. (One reviewer did mention a "a heavy reliance on 'someone's past comes back to haunt them'" and I'd agree that this is a theme that crops up in several Holmes stories, here and elsewhere.)
I guessed the main outlines of the solution in "The Adventure of the Norwood Builder," "The Adventure of the Solitary Cyclist," and "The Adventure of the Six Napoleons," but it was still fun to see Holmes demonstrate and prove it, and the stories held some definite surprises nonetheless. "The Adventure of the Priory School" and "The Adventure of the Golden Pince-Nez" (which has two of Doyle's more memorable characters), were more stories where I'd seen the adaptation on PBS' Mystery!, so again I knew the basic solution; but the stories differed from the adaptation in some particulars, and I'd forgotten others, so they weren't spoiled reads on that account. Other mysteries were more difficult to resolve until the denouement, though in a couple of cases I'd formed a basic theory along the way which was correct as far as it went.
"The Adventure of the Dancing Men" allowed Holmes to demonstrate his code-breaking skills to advantage. In the missing-person story, "The Adventure of the Missing Three Quarter," the title comes from the terminology of the British sport of cricket --a world as new to Holmes as to me. :-) Both "The Adventure of Black Peter," (featuring the demise of a generally despised retired sea captain, his body found pinned to a wall with one of his own harpoons) and "The Adventure of the Abbey Grange" are among Holmes' grislier murder cases. But the latter was one of my favorite stories here --though its grisliness wasn't the reason I liked it! That one is marred in one place by a character's use of "white man" as a complimentary term synonymous with "man of personal integrity," which is obviously racist; but Doyle is simply reproducing there the kind of speech that a character with these characteristics and background might well have used in that era. (The same usage rears its head, for instance, in John Buchan's The 39 Steps, which dates from the same period.) One story in The Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes actually makes a very good statement about racial issues and is refreshingly free of the usual British racism of that day; to avoid a "spoiler," I won't identify the story, but it probably reflects the author's own attitudes more reliably than a casual comment put in the mouth of a character who appears once.
"The Adventure of the Second Stain" takes Holmes and Watson, once again, into the world of high stakes international espionage. My main take-away from "The Adventure of the Three Students" is that it reflects a mind-set of English (and probably American as well) college students in an era that still saw academic cheating as something beneath an honorable person --and indeed, still felt that a person could be honorable, and that this would actually be a good thing. (Attitudes have changed today, and not for the better; but having read this soon after being present for the signing, at the start of another school year, of the Bluefield College Honor Code by the incoming freshmen, I'm glad that I'm serving an institution that chooses to go against the grain in that respect!)
Like , I read this collection (this time, at least) as part of the omnibus volume , which reproduces all of the illustrations of the stories done by Sidney Paget when they were first published in The Strand. These enhance the read, IMO (kids aren't the only readers who can enjoy illustrations; we adults do, too! :-) )
I suspect that I read this collection, and some of the other Holmes collections in addition to the first as well, as a kid, since here I had the experience (not for the first time, in reading these books!) of recognizing a passage of dialogue I'd read before. I definitely recall that my reading of The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, back in the mists of childhood, set me to hunting up and reading every Sherlock Holmes book I could find. Only the titles of the first collection and the four novels stayed in my memory; but given my tendency to forget title information for books I read in those days, it's quite likely I read all, or at least much more, of the canon at that age than I specifically remembered!
Collecting 13 Sherlock Holmes tales which originally appeared in The Strand magazine from Oct. 1903 to Jan. 1905, and published in book form in 1905, this is the third of Doyle's five story collections featuring Holmes, the second one being . Indeed, the lead story here, "The Adventure of the Empty House," is essentially a sequel to the last story in the previous collection, "The Adventure of the Final Problem." (In all of these collections, the arrangement of the stories is apparently in the order they were written.) The former story is one of two here that I definitely remembered already reading; the other is "The Adventure of Charles Augustus Milverton," which is one of my favorite stories in the Holmes canon, though hard to discuss without a spoiler. (It was adapted for the PBS Mystery! TV series, starring Jeremy Brett, as "The Master Blackmailer;" I can recommend that version, but it does flesh out the original with significant added material.)
I would say that stylistically, the stories here are typical of the Holmes corpus --which is to say, very readable, flowing well, with appropriate levels of description and character development, posing challenging intellectual puzzles that call forth satisfying displays of deduction, often with atmospheric and Gothic touches, and with inherent emotional impact and sometimes thought-provoking situations. Holmes' character dominates the book, and he's definitely one of the genre's most individual and memorable sleuths. (One reviewer did mention a "a heavy reliance on 'someone's past comes back to haunt them'" and I'd agree that this is a theme that crops up in several Holmes stories, here and elsewhere.)
I guessed the main outlines of the solution in "The Adventure of the Norwood Builder," "The Adventure of the Solitary Cyclist," and "The Adventure of the Six Napoleons," but it was still fun to see Holmes demonstrate and prove it, and the stories held some definite surprises nonetheless. "The Adventure of the Priory School" and "The Adventure of the Golden Pince-Nez" (which has two of Doyle's more memorable characters), were more stories where I'd seen the adaptation on PBS' Mystery!, so again I knew the basic solution; but the stories differed from the adaptation in some particulars, and I'd forgotten others, so they weren't spoiled reads on that account. Other mysteries were more difficult to resolve until the denouement, though in a couple of cases I'd formed a basic theory along the way which was correct as far as it went.
"The Adventure of the Dancing Men" allowed Holmes to demonstrate his code-breaking skills to advantage. In the missing-person story, "The Adventure of the Missing Three Quarter," the title comes from the terminology of the British sport of cricket --a world as new to Holmes as to me. :-) Both "The Adventure of Black Peter," (featuring the demise of a generally despised retired sea captain, his body found pinned to a wall with one of his own harpoons) and "The Adventure of the Abbey Grange" are among Holmes' grislier murder cases. But the latter was one of my favorite stories here --though its grisliness wasn't the reason I liked it! That one is marred in one place by a character's use of "white man" as a complimentary term synonymous with "man of personal integrity," which is obviously racist; but Doyle is simply reproducing there the kind of speech that a character with these characteristics and background might well have used in that era. (The same usage rears its head, for instance, in John Buchan's The 39 Steps, which dates from the same period.) One story in The Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes actually makes a very good statement about racial issues and is refreshingly free of the usual British racism of that day; to avoid a "spoiler," I won't identify the story, but it probably reflects the author's own attitudes more reliably than a casual comment put in the mouth of a character who appears once.
"The Adventure of the Second Stain" takes Holmes and Watson, once again, into the world of high stakes international espionage. My main take-away from "The Adventure of the Three Students" is that it reflects a mind-set of English (and probably American as well) college students in an era that still saw academic cheating as something beneath an honorable person --and indeed, still felt that a person could be honorable, and that this would actually be a good thing. (Attitudes have changed today, and not for the better; but having read this soon after being present for the signing, at the start of another school year, of the Bluefield College Honor Code by the incoming freshmen, I'm glad that I'm serving an institution that chooses to go against the grain in that respect!)
Like , I read this collection (this time, at least) as part of the omnibus volume , which reproduces all of the illustrations of the stories done by Sidney Paget when they were first published in The Strand. These enhance the read, IMO (kids aren't the only readers who can enjoy illustrations; we adults do, too! :-) )
May 29, 2021
The most interesting part of the book is when Sherlock Holmes returns; the emotional connection shared by Dr. Watson is not only moving but also praiseworthy. Shows how their friendship and value for one another have grown enormously throughout the years.
Coming back to the stories, I found them less suspicious and attention-grabbing in nature this time. Though Holmes was as always the best in solving them. But I strongly believe that the collection could have been better. Hence I have given it four stars rather than the usual five stars.
Best line: "Every problem becomes childish when explained" - Sherlock Holmes
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Coming back to the stories, I found them less suspicious and attention-grabbing in nature this time. Though Holmes was as always the best in solving them. But I strongly believe that the collection could have been better. Hence I have given it four stars rather than the usual five stars.
Best line: "Every problem becomes childish when explained" - Sherlock Holmes
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March 31, 2019
It would probably have been better if I had spaced these out instead of reading one right after the other. That bit at the crater, had me shaking my head at Preston and Child. Must be a kind of complement or loving homage.
January 24, 2016
This is a great collection of thirteen Sherlock Holmes detective stories. These occur after Sherlock supposibley dies in the last collection. The author was under a lot of pressure to revive Sherlock Holmes and masterfully does in this volume.
Enjoy and Be Blessed.
Diamond
Enjoy and Be Blessed.
Diamond
November 3, 2022
An excellentlt written collection of stories, but that's to be expected from Arthur Conan Doyle. Not quite up to the standard of some of his earlier Sherlock stories, but I freely admit that could just be a personal prefference.
March 16, 2025
Sherlock Holmes is back! This indeed is a happy development. I knew he was immortal. :)
With his return, Sherlock Holmes brings to us (through Dr. Watson's chronicles of course) thirteen interesting adventures of his where, as always, his brilliant analytical mind, somewhat supernatural faculties, and his power of deduction are demonstrated to his great advantage. This is the third collection of short stories I've read of Sherlock Holmes's adventures and it is the most interesting one to me. Except for a couple, all the others were generously rated between four and five stars.
The Adventure of the Empty House - 5 stars,
The Adventure of the Norwood Builder - 5 stars,
The Adventure of the Dancing Men - 5 stars,
The Adventure of the Solitary Cyclist - 5 stars,
The Adventure of the Six Napoleons - 5 stars,
The Adventure of the Missing Three-Quarter - 5 stars,
The Adventure of the Abbey Grange - 5 stars,
The Adventure of the Priory School - 4 stars,
The Adventure of Charles Augustus Milverton - 4 stars,
The Adventure of the Three Students - 4 stars,
The Adventure of the Golden Pince-Nez - 4 stars,
The Adventure of the Second Stain - 3 stars and
The Adventure of Black Peter - 3 stars.
The eccentricity and arrogance were two marked characteristics of Sherlock Holmes. They were all the more marked in these stories, especially his arrogance. I wasn't pleased when his arrogance was directed towards Dr. Watson, but like the doctor, I also couldn't keep my annoyance for too long. The only complaint I have regarding this collection is Dr. Watson being reduced to a mere chronicler and a secretary. I wish the author had assigned a more useful role to the worthy doctor.
I'm glad that Conan Doyle bowed down to the popular opinion and decided to continue the series long after his decision to end of the series with The Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes . We readers otherwise would have been deprived of some of the best adventures of Sherlock Holmes.
With his return, Sherlock Holmes brings to us (through Dr. Watson's chronicles of course) thirteen interesting adventures of his where, as always, his brilliant analytical mind, somewhat supernatural faculties, and his power of deduction are demonstrated to his great advantage. This is the third collection of short stories I've read of Sherlock Holmes's adventures and it is the most interesting one to me. Except for a couple, all the others were generously rated between four and five stars.
The Adventure of the Empty House - 5 stars,
The Adventure of the Norwood Builder - 5 stars,
The Adventure of the Dancing Men - 5 stars,
The Adventure of the Solitary Cyclist - 5 stars,
The Adventure of the Six Napoleons - 5 stars,
The Adventure of the Missing Three-Quarter - 5 stars,
The Adventure of the Abbey Grange - 5 stars,
The Adventure of the Priory School - 4 stars,
The Adventure of Charles Augustus Milverton - 4 stars,
The Adventure of the Three Students - 4 stars,
The Adventure of the Golden Pince-Nez - 4 stars,
The Adventure of the Second Stain - 3 stars and
The Adventure of Black Peter - 3 stars.
The eccentricity and arrogance were two marked characteristics of Sherlock Holmes. They were all the more marked in these stories, especially his arrogance. I wasn't pleased when his arrogance was directed towards Dr. Watson, but like the doctor, I also couldn't keep my annoyance for too long. The only complaint I have regarding this collection is Dr. Watson being reduced to a mere chronicler and a secretary. I wish the author had assigned a more useful role to the worthy doctor.
I'm glad that Conan Doyle bowed down to the popular opinion and decided to continue the series long after his decision to end of the series with The Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes . We readers otherwise would have been deprived of some of the best adventures of Sherlock Holmes.
March 22, 2016
Quality varies among the different short stories, but overall... a pleasure to read.
March 5, 2025
I very much enjoyed these stories with Sherlock Holmes & Dr. Watson, almost all were very interesting.
July 7, 2018
The Return of Sherlock Holmes collects thirteen short stories featuring the famous detective, all supposedly written and published by John Watson, his best friend, roommate, and confidante. (With a disappearing wife.) After the events of 鈥淭he Adventure of the Final Problem鈥�, Holmes returns, in dramatic fashion, and the two set out to solve crimes all over London, from theft to blackmail to international espionage.
While I have plenty more to say about the 鈥淚 Believe in Sherlock鈥� movement (I may have participated?), I鈥檒l just say here that it amazes and humbles me that Holmes鈥� 鈥渄eath鈥� has always affected fans to the point of action. And I was wondering how Doyle would actually bring him back. 鈥淭he Adventure of the Empty House鈥� does not disappoint. While the stories are ultimately adventure pieces, Holmes and Watson鈥檚 reunion is actually touching and the two do communicate how much they mean to each other鈥攊n fact, Holmes underestimated the affect his disappearance would have on Watson. They fall back into their familiar rhythm over the course of the story; they鈥檙e even a little handsy with each other as they readjust. I mean, more than usual. And at the end, all returns to status quo. (Holmes buys Watson鈥檚 practice in a roundabout manner and Mary seems to have vanished into thin air, so now they鈥檙e just living solely on Holmes鈥� paycheck, I assume. Oh, boys.)
While I have plenty more to say about the 鈥淚 Believe in Sherlock鈥� movement (I may have participated?), I鈥檒l just say here that it amazes and humbles me that Holmes鈥� 鈥渄eath鈥� has always affected fans to the point of action. And I was wondering how Doyle would actually bring him back. 鈥淭he Adventure of the Empty House鈥� does not disappoint. While the stories are ultimately adventure pieces, Holmes and Watson鈥檚 reunion is actually touching and the two do communicate how much they mean to each other鈥攊n fact, Holmes underestimated the affect his disappearance would have on Watson. They fall back into their familiar rhythm over the course of the story; they鈥檙e even a little handsy with each other as they readjust. I mean, more than usual. And at the end, all returns to status quo. (Holmes buys Watson鈥檚 practice in a roundabout manner and Mary seems to have vanished into thin air, so now they鈥檙e just living solely on Holmes鈥� paycheck, I assume. Oh, boys.)
July 20, 2019
***The Summer of Sherlock 2019***
Sir Arthur Conan Doyle may have been reluctant to raise Sherlock Holmes from the dead, but he certainly provided some entertaining stories after his sudden return.
I confess that I was quite chuffed when I had figured out what was going on in The Adventure of the Six Napoleons before the great detective was ready to reveal the motivation of the criminal. And I still have some nagging memories concerning The Adventure of Charles Augustus Milverton, as I am sure that I have previously encountered this plotline and I cannot remember where! Most likely in a more recent book in which someone has borrowed from the master, but I am being driven mad because I cannot recall the source.
I am so glad that Doyle brought Holmes back if only because we got The Adventure of the Dancing Men out of the deal. What an excellent story of code-breaking and villain-catching!
I hold the author to blame, however, for the idea that men should be cold, intellectual, and detached from society. I think that our society would be much better if more men aspired to be John Watson, rather than Sherlock Holmes!
Sir Arthur Conan Doyle may have been reluctant to raise Sherlock Holmes from the dead, but he certainly provided some entertaining stories after his sudden return.
I confess that I was quite chuffed when I had figured out what was going on in The Adventure of the Six Napoleons before the great detective was ready to reveal the motivation of the criminal. And I still have some nagging memories concerning The Adventure of Charles Augustus Milverton, as I am sure that I have previously encountered this plotline and I cannot remember where! Most likely in a more recent book in which someone has borrowed from the master, but I am being driven mad because I cannot recall the source.
I am so glad that Doyle brought Holmes back if only because we got The Adventure of the Dancing Men out of the deal. What an excellent story of code-breaking and villain-catching!
I hold the author to blame, however, for the idea that men should be cold, intellectual, and detached from society. I think that our society would be much better if more men aspired to be John Watson, rather than Sherlock Holmes!
November 17, 2021
螌蟿伪谓 畏 渭伪纬蔚委伪 蟿慰蠀 魏位伪蟽喂魏慰蠉 蟽蠀谓伪谓蟿维蔚喂 蟿畏谓 蠄蠀蠂慰位慰纬委伪 蟿畏蟼 伪谓伪纬谓蠅蟽蟿喂魏萎蟼 伪蟺蠈位伪蠀蟽畏蟼.
螝伪位萎 伪谓维纬谓蠅蟽畏.
螤慰位位慰蠉蟼 魏伪喂 蟽蔚渭谓慰蠉蟼 伪蟽蟺伪蟽渭慰蠉蟼.
螝伪位萎 伪谓维纬谓蠅蟽畏.
螤慰位位慰蠉蟼 魏伪喂 蟽蔚渭谓慰蠉蟼 伪蟽蟺伪蟽渭慰蠉蟼.
October 22, 2023
Calificaci贸n: 2.84鈽�
The adventure of the empty house 鈽呪槄鈽�
The adventure of the Norwood builder 鈽呪槄鈽�
The adventure of the dancing men 鈽呪槄鈽�
The adventure of the solitary cyclist 鈽呪槄鈽�
The adventure of the Priory School鈽呪槄
The adventure of Black Peter鈽呪槄鈽�
The adventure of Charles Augustus Milverton鈽呪槄鈽呪槄
The adventure of the six Napoleons鈽呪槄鈽呪槄
The adventure of the three students 鈽呪槄
The adventure of the golden pince-nez鈽呪槄鈽�
The adventure of the missing three-quarter鈽�
The adventure of the Abbey Grange鈽呪槄鈽呪槄
The adventure of the second stain鈽呪槄
The adventure of the empty house 鈽呪槄鈽�
The adventure of the Norwood builder 鈽呪槄鈽�
The adventure of the dancing men 鈽呪槄鈽�
The adventure of the solitary cyclist 鈽呪槄鈽�
The adventure of the Priory School鈽呪槄
The adventure of Black Peter鈽呪槄鈽�
The adventure of Charles Augustus Milverton鈽呪槄鈽呪槄
The adventure of the six Napoleons鈽呪槄鈽呪槄
The adventure of the three students 鈽呪槄
The adventure of the golden pince-nez鈽呪槄鈽�
The adventure of the missing three-quarter鈽�
The adventure of the Abbey Grange鈽呪槄鈽呪槄
The adventure of the second stain鈽呪槄
June 15, 2012
I know now why this collection of 13 short stories is called 鈥淭he Return..鈥� In the last story of 鈥淢emoirs鈥� entitled The Final Problem, Watson says that Holmes has retired and will no longer publish new stories. Now in real life, between that story which was published in 1893 and 1903, the period called by Sherlock fans as 鈥淭he Great Hiatus,鈥� Sir Arthur Conan Doyle only wrote his third novel, The Hound of the Baskervilles (said to be his greatest novel). So, while writing the first story of the collection, Doyle was in full hope that the interest in his characters, Holmes and Watson, would be revived. I actually rested for few days in between reading the two collections and I would say that on the 6th day, I felt that I was missing Sherlock Holmes so I returned to my daily reading and finished this book in 4 days including two heavy weekend reading days:
The Adventure of the Empty House tells that Holmes has survived the fall from the Reinchenbach Falls with his archenemy Professor Mortiary. However, one of Mortiary鈥檚 confederates, Moran, knows about this so Holmes hides for three years and comes back in disguise. Watson, now a widower, recognizes him and so they are both back to resolving crimes in London. Their first assignment is the murder of Ronald Adair in Park Lane and the culprit is no other than his card playmate, who is but Moran. Very enjoyable after almost a week of not reading Sherlock Holmes. My friend is correct in advising me of not reading this canon without letup. Holmes almost convinced me went abroad to see the Dalai Lama! 鈥� 4 STARS
The Adventure of the Norwood Builder is about Oldacre who wants to start a new life so he fakes his murder and sets up the son of the woman who has ditched him. Holmes does the unorthodox solution: fakes a fire and let the 3 cohorts to shout 鈥淔ire!鈥� Oldacre comes out from the hiding. Also enjoyable but I could not believe that Oldacre did not know that the fire was staged. - 3 STARS
The Adventure of the Dancing Men is about the death of a couple, American lady called Elsie and the British guy called Cubitt. Prior to their deaths, the images of the 15 Dancing Men mysteriously appear in their house. Although I loved the idea, I just can鈥檛 imagine how the ditched American lover was able to draw them on the wall without being caught. Oh, also what happened to the fingerprints on the guns used? - 2 STARS
The Adventure of the Solitary Cyclist Violet is seeing a man on a bicycle following her. It seems to have something to do with the uncle who contacts Carruthers and Woodley to ensure the well-being of Violet and her mother. Quite ordinary. I thought it would have been more interesting if the love story is highlighted more. But then this is Sherlock Holmes and not Nicholas Sparks. - 2 STARS
The Adventure of the Priory School Lord Saltire is missing from Priory School. Apparently, he leaves the school and is chased by Heidegger, the school鈥檚 master. The boy is reported to be unhappy at home and it is assumed to be the reason. Holmes and Watson deduced by first looking at the cow鈥檚 tracks and noticing that one of the bicycles has a patch. I liked this one because it has a second set of characters that come out during the deduction part that I did not expect coming. - 3 STARS
The Adventure of Black Peter A whaler father is found dead, murdered in his store. His family is happy because he, abusive to them, is finally out of their lives. Investigator Hopkins asks for help from Holmes and Watson. Holmes sees the initial on the cover of the diary in the crime scene and it leads him to the culprit. Seems ordinary to me. - 2 STARS
The Adventure of Charles Augustus Milverton The character of Charles Augustus Milverton is based on the life of Charles Augustus Howell (1840-1890) who persuaded the poet Dante Gabriel Rossetti to dig the up the poems he buried with his wife Elizabeth Siddal. He was said to have used those letters to bribe well-known personalities. Sir Conan Doyle used this true-to-life situation as a backdrop of this story. Here, Holmes is hired by a debutante Lady Eva Blackwell to retrieve compromising letters from a blackmailer, Milverton. Holmes disguises as a plumber, applies in the Blackwell mansion and get engaged with one of the maids. Conan Doyle has limitless imagination and can make Holmes do everything especially all these almost unbelievable disguises. - 4 STARS
The Adventure of the Six Napoleons The busts of Napoleon are being shattered night after night by an unknown person. Through the power of Holmes鈥� deduction he found out why. Direct storytelling. I thought it had something to do with British hating Napoleon, a French military commander and conquerer. Until the revelation. - 3 STARS
The Adventure of the Three Students Three students are suspected to have 鈥減rototype鈥� of the exams that would qualify them for a big scholarship. The incident happens when the professor is out from his office. Holmes is consulted to do a mini-mini-minimo. I liked this because it is simple and brought back memories of classmates who were caught cheating during exams in school. Not that I did not think of committing similar acts! - 4 STARS
The Adventure of the Golden Pince-Nez The Golden Pince-Nez is a pair of eyeglasses that gets lost during an accident killing of Willoughby Smith, secretary to Professor Coram. Check the back of the bookcase. This story is short and quite uncomplicated compared to the other stories but I enjoyed it! - 3 STARS
The Adventure of the Missing Three-Quarter Very sad discovery where Staunton is. I thought that this story is sport-related until the ending. Quite surprisingly, I am liking the Holmes stories with light straightforward resolutions. - 3 STARS
The Adventure of the Abbey Grange An abusive husband, Sir Eustace Brackenstall is murdered while his wife for 18 months, Lady Brackenstall is tied on a post. The lady and her maid say that the culprit is a group of 3 burglars. The answer is obvious. I knew it! I was able to predict this one! - 2 STARS
The Adventure of the Second Stain A missing document from the dispatch box of the Secretary of State, Lord Bellinger. He believes that no one knows the importance of that document even his wife, Lady Bellinger. Then one of the spies hired by Holmes is killed. Tight plot. I did not see the ending coming but I again anticipated the marital problem. - 3 STARS
Now my reading of the short stories about Sherlock Holmes is becoming interesting. There is a formula: crime 飪� initial investigation 飪� seems lame/untrue 飪� investigate 飪� first clues 飪� deduction 飪� new characters/setting/real events 飪� conclusion. So, while reading, I can tell where I am. Then if I can predict what happens in the last two stages, it makes me happy. The only thing that I should improve on is how to do deductions! I have not been able to think the way Holmes does! He is just too smart!
The Adventure of the Empty House tells that Holmes has survived the fall from the Reinchenbach Falls with his archenemy Professor Mortiary. However, one of Mortiary鈥檚 confederates, Moran, knows about this so Holmes hides for three years and comes back in disguise. Watson, now a widower, recognizes him and so they are both back to resolving crimes in London. Their first assignment is the murder of Ronald Adair in Park Lane and the culprit is no other than his card playmate, who is but Moran. Very enjoyable after almost a week of not reading Sherlock Holmes. My friend is correct in advising me of not reading this canon without letup. Holmes almost convinced me went abroad to see the Dalai Lama! 鈥� 4 STARS
The Adventure of the Norwood Builder is about Oldacre who wants to start a new life so he fakes his murder and sets up the son of the woman who has ditched him. Holmes does the unorthodox solution: fakes a fire and let the 3 cohorts to shout 鈥淔ire!鈥� Oldacre comes out from the hiding. Also enjoyable but I could not believe that Oldacre did not know that the fire was staged. - 3 STARS
The Adventure of the Dancing Men is about the death of a couple, American lady called Elsie and the British guy called Cubitt. Prior to their deaths, the images of the 15 Dancing Men mysteriously appear in their house. Although I loved the idea, I just can鈥檛 imagine how the ditched American lover was able to draw them on the wall without being caught. Oh, also what happened to the fingerprints on the guns used? - 2 STARS
The Adventure of the Solitary Cyclist Violet is seeing a man on a bicycle following her. It seems to have something to do with the uncle who contacts Carruthers and Woodley to ensure the well-being of Violet and her mother. Quite ordinary. I thought it would have been more interesting if the love story is highlighted more. But then this is Sherlock Holmes and not Nicholas Sparks. - 2 STARS
The Adventure of the Priory School Lord Saltire is missing from Priory School. Apparently, he leaves the school and is chased by Heidegger, the school鈥檚 master. The boy is reported to be unhappy at home and it is assumed to be the reason. Holmes and Watson deduced by first looking at the cow鈥檚 tracks and noticing that one of the bicycles has a patch. I liked this one because it has a second set of characters that come out during the deduction part that I did not expect coming. - 3 STARS
The Adventure of Black Peter A whaler father is found dead, murdered in his store. His family is happy because he, abusive to them, is finally out of their lives. Investigator Hopkins asks for help from Holmes and Watson. Holmes sees the initial on the cover of the diary in the crime scene and it leads him to the culprit. Seems ordinary to me. - 2 STARS
The Adventure of Charles Augustus Milverton The character of Charles Augustus Milverton is based on the life of Charles Augustus Howell (1840-1890) who persuaded the poet Dante Gabriel Rossetti to dig the up the poems he buried with his wife Elizabeth Siddal. He was said to have used those letters to bribe well-known personalities. Sir Conan Doyle used this true-to-life situation as a backdrop of this story. Here, Holmes is hired by a debutante Lady Eva Blackwell to retrieve compromising letters from a blackmailer, Milverton. Holmes disguises as a plumber, applies in the Blackwell mansion and get engaged with one of the maids. Conan Doyle has limitless imagination and can make Holmes do everything especially all these almost unbelievable disguises. - 4 STARS
The Adventure of the Six Napoleons The busts of Napoleon are being shattered night after night by an unknown person. Through the power of Holmes鈥� deduction he found out why. Direct storytelling. I thought it had something to do with British hating Napoleon, a French military commander and conquerer. Until the revelation. - 3 STARS
The Adventure of the Three Students Three students are suspected to have 鈥減rototype鈥� of the exams that would qualify them for a big scholarship. The incident happens when the professor is out from his office. Holmes is consulted to do a mini-mini-minimo. I liked this because it is simple and brought back memories of classmates who were caught cheating during exams in school. Not that I did not think of committing similar acts! - 4 STARS
The Adventure of the Golden Pince-Nez The Golden Pince-Nez is a pair of eyeglasses that gets lost during an accident killing of Willoughby Smith, secretary to Professor Coram. Check the back of the bookcase. This story is short and quite uncomplicated compared to the other stories but I enjoyed it! - 3 STARS
The Adventure of the Missing Three-Quarter Very sad discovery where Staunton is. I thought that this story is sport-related until the ending. Quite surprisingly, I am liking the Holmes stories with light straightforward resolutions. - 3 STARS
The Adventure of the Abbey Grange An abusive husband, Sir Eustace Brackenstall is murdered while his wife for 18 months, Lady Brackenstall is tied on a post. The lady and her maid say that the culprit is a group of 3 burglars. The answer is obvious. I knew it! I was able to predict this one! - 2 STARS
The Adventure of the Second Stain A missing document from the dispatch box of the Secretary of State, Lord Bellinger. He believes that no one knows the importance of that document even his wife, Lady Bellinger. Then one of the spies hired by Holmes is killed. Tight plot. I did not see the ending coming but I again anticipated the marital problem. - 3 STARS
Now my reading of the short stories about Sherlock Holmes is becoming interesting. There is a formula: crime 飪� initial investigation 飪� seems lame/untrue 飪� investigate 飪� first clues 飪� deduction 飪� new characters/setting/real events 飪� conclusion. So, while reading, I can tell where I am. Then if I can predict what happens in the last two stages, it makes me happy. The only thing that I should improve on is how to do deductions! I have not been able to think the way Holmes does! He is just too smart!
April 2, 2023
The Return of Sherlock Holmes was another delightful anthology of short stories of some of the most famous cases solved by our beloved sleuth who possesses not only excellent deductive powers but a giant intellect having anatomy, chemistry, mathematics, British law, philosophy and literature at his command. I have been hooked on this series since finally reading the first story about Sherlock Holmes, A Study in Scarlet, and continuing to make my way through this amazing offering by Sir Conan Doyle.
A few of my favorite included The Adventure of the Empty House involving the murder of the Honourable Ronald Adair under most unusual and inexplicable circumstances. Another favorite was The Adventure of the Solitary Cyclist, involving the case of Miss Violet Smith, the solitary cyclist of Charlington and the mysterious sequel of their investigation that culminated in an unexpected tragedy. Another favorite was The Adventure of the Six Napoleons, again summoned by Scotland Yard to assist in the mysterious cases of the metodical destruction of the remaining six busts of Napoleon. And one of my favorite when it came to the power of Holmes' deductive reasoning was The Adventure of the Golden Pince-Nez. Also not to be missed were the last two stories, The Adventure of the Abby Grange and The Adventure of the Second Stain.
It has been said that from the years 1894 to 1901 that Mr. Sherlock Holmes was a very busy man as there was no public case of any difficulty in which he was not consulted. But in the words of Holmes' friend, confidant, and chronicler of his stories, Dr. John Watson:
A few of my favorite included The Adventure of the Empty House involving the murder of the Honourable Ronald Adair under most unusual and inexplicable circumstances. Another favorite was The Adventure of the Solitary Cyclist, involving the case of Miss Violet Smith, the solitary cyclist of Charlington and the mysterious sequel of their investigation that culminated in an unexpected tragedy. Another favorite was The Adventure of the Six Napoleons, again summoned by Scotland Yard to assist in the mysterious cases of the metodical destruction of the remaining six busts of Napoleon. And one of my favorite when it came to the power of Holmes' deductive reasoning was The Adventure of the Golden Pince-Nez. Also not to be missed were the last two stories, The Adventure of the Abby Grange and The Adventure of the Second Stain.
It has been said that from the years 1894 to 1901 that Mr. Sherlock Holmes was a very busy man as there was no public case of any difficulty in which he was not consulted. But in the words of Holmes' friend, confidant, and chronicler of his stories, Dr. John Watson:
"I shall, however, preserve my former rule, and give preference to those cases which derive their interest not so much from the brutality of the crime as from the ingenuity and dramatic quality of the solution."
August 3, 2022
The Return of Sherlock Holmes is yet another collection of short stories.
Sherlock Holmes is dead and Watson has lost both his best friend and also his wife. He isn't the same person he was before. But then he finds out that Sherlock Holmes is still alive, and things change for him.
This book started out a bit slow but it picked up pace as the book progressed. It is also a lot longer than the other Sherlock Holmes books that I have read. Overall, I enjoyed it but I didn't love it as much as I had loved other Sherlock Holmes books.
3.75 stars
Sherlock Holmes is dead and Watson has lost both his best friend and also his wife. He isn't the same person he was before. But then he finds out that Sherlock Holmes is still alive, and things change for him.
This book started out a bit slow but it picked up pace as the book progressed. It is also a lot longer than the other Sherlock Holmes books that I have read. Overall, I enjoyed it but I didn't love it as much as I had loved other Sherlock Holmes books.
3.75 stars
March 6, 2017
After Doyle said he would no longer write about his famous consulting detective, one might reasonably expect the quality of his stories to go down after he returned to them (due to popular demand), but I didn鈥檛 find that the case (pun unintended). Yes, some of the elements are a bit overfamiliar by now, but fans expected those, and without them Holmes and Watson are not themselves.
The murders seem more violent (give the people what they want?), but the humorous dialogue (鈥溾€o you can put that in your pipe and smoke it, Mr. Busybody Holmes!鈥� and 鈥淲hat did you do, Hopkins, after you made certain that you had made certain of nothing?鈥�); and the nice descriptive writing (鈥en miles of man鈥檚 handiwork on every side of us, to feel the iron grip of Nature鈥o the huge elemental forces all London was no more than the molehills that dot the fields.) are still present, along with something new鈥攇raphics (drawings mostly) provided to the readers so they can see what Sherlock sees.
At the end of this collection, Watson says Sherlock no longer wants his stories to be published now that he has retired to the country. He wants no more publicity and to be left in peace. Poor Doyle.
The murders seem more violent (give the people what they want?), but the humorous dialogue (鈥溾€o you can put that in your pipe and smoke it, Mr. Busybody Holmes!鈥� and 鈥淲hat did you do, Hopkins, after you made certain that you had made certain of nothing?鈥�); and the nice descriptive writing (鈥en miles of man鈥檚 handiwork on every side of us, to feel the iron grip of Nature鈥o the huge elemental forces all London was no more than the molehills that dot the fields.) are still present, along with something new鈥攇raphics (drawings mostly) provided to the readers so they can see what Sherlock sees.
At the end of this collection, Watson says Sherlock no longer wants his stories to be published now that he has retired to the country. He wants no more publicity and to be left in peace. Poor Doyle.
July 7, 2021
This was either my 4th or 5th reading of these stories. Some were slightly far fetched, but Holmes and Watson are always worth five stars.
November 20, 2018
NOTE: Original review magically deleted by nefarious internet forces
The sixth installment of the Holmes series, and the third collection of short stories, tells of Holmes' survival from his apparent fate in . Doyle's writing style has noticably improved since the prior short story collection, and the plot ideas, which had grown quite stale, are generally more creative although there is still a heavy reliance on "someone's past comes back to haunt them."
- 3/5 - explains Holmes' return but not much of a mystery to solve
- 3/5 - surprising twist to this murder
- 4/5 - past comes back to haunt someone, but the code is fun and makes the old plot more tolerable
- 4/5 - So look out for those beauties oh yeah
- 4/5 - longer Holmes story with lots of work for Holmes and Watson to do
- 3/5 - what's that you say? Someone's past has come back to haunt them?
- 4/5 - Holmes and Watson on the other side of the law!
- 4/5 - Not hard to figure out but fun nevertheless
- 4/5 - Holmes and Watson back to school
- 3/5 - Someone's past comes back to...aw, you know the rest
- 3/5 - *sigh*...would you believe it? Someone's past comes back to haunt them...
- 4/5 - Case solved! Or is it...?
- 4/5 - there must have been a second stain, over there on the grassy knoll!
The sixth installment of the Holmes series, and the third collection of short stories, tells of Holmes' survival from his apparent fate in . Doyle's writing style has noticably improved since the prior short story collection, and the plot ideas, which had grown quite stale, are generally more creative although there is still a heavy reliance on "someone's past comes back to haunt them."
- 3/5 - explains Holmes' return but not much of a mystery to solve
- 3/5 - surprising twist to this murder
- 4/5 - past comes back to haunt someone, but the code is fun and makes the old plot more tolerable
- 4/5 - So look out for those beauties oh yeah
- 4/5 - longer Holmes story with lots of work for Holmes and Watson to do
- 3/5 - what's that you say? Someone's past has come back to haunt them?
- 4/5 - Holmes and Watson on the other side of the law!
- 4/5 - Not hard to figure out but fun nevertheless
- 4/5 - Holmes and Watson back to school
- 3/5 - Someone's past comes back to...aw, you know the rest
- 3/5 - *sigh*...would you believe it? Someone's past comes back to haunt them...
- 4/5 - Case solved! Or is it...?
- 4/5 - there must have been a second stain, over there on the grassy knoll!
May 5, 2025
Nothing more than average, but that's only my humble opinion. Sherlock has some (not too many... ) brilliant reasonings ant that's all.
On the other hand the stories are sometimes childish (particularly that with the bicyclist who tries to protect the lady), full of too convenient circumstances (two men have the same initials, someone intends to do a crime exactly the day, place and hour Holmes expects) or too obvious, like the story with the six Napoleons.
So, if you ask me, three out of five is a fair assessment.
On the other hand the stories are sometimes childish (particularly that with the bicyclist who tries to protect the lady), full of too convenient circumstances (two men have the same initials, someone intends to do a crime exactly the day, place and hour Holmes expects) or too obvious, like the story with the six Napoleons.
So, if you ask me, three out of five is a fair assessment.
March 17, 2018
Fantastic collection. Surely 5 out of 5
July 21, 2021
What can I say, I am simply Sherlocked :)
May 23, 2020
Never Say Die, Watson!
In 1901 Arthur Conan Doyle heard about the legend of a ghostly hound haunting the marshes of Dartmoor, and he was so fascinated by this tale that he decided to turn it into a story about an old family curse. Originally, there was no talk of Sherlock Holmes in this context at first, but since it occurred to the writer that he would need the character of a detective in his tale to have the family mystery unravelled, Doyle made up his mind to reactivate Sherlock Holmes, a conclusion in which the prospect of increasing his royalty from the Strand Magazine might have had some little momentum. However, as readers knew 鈥� to their chagrin 鈥� Holmes had met the Grim Reaper in his final struggle with Professor Moriarty, and therefore Doyle set the story told in The Hound of the Baskervilles before the fatal duel between the master detective and the master scoundrel.
Some time later, though, Doyle gave in to further public demand for new Sherlock Holmes adventures, although before killing off his popular creation in the Reichenbach Falls he was sure that unless he killed Holmes, Holmes would sooner or later kill him. This time, however, it seemed impossible to have all the new cases take place before 1891, and so Doyle did something that is very familiar to watchers of modern soap operas: He undid the death of a character by retrospectively rewriting part of the story. As can be expected of Doyle, he was a little bit more imaginative than simply to claim that Watson had just dreamed Holmes鈥檚 death 鈥� a solution that would have laid itself open to troubling psychoanalytical interpretations, by the way 鈥�; instead, in the first story, The Empty House, we learn what really happened on that fateful day in Switzerland, and also why Holmes had chosen to pass for dead from 1891-94. Giving a credible account of how Holmes could have made his escape from the annoying scrape into which he was put by Moriarty, Doyle had to cheat a little bit by retrospectively altering decisive details given in Watson鈥檚 original account of the demise of Sherlock Holmes. All the same, he does it in a way that rather wrests an indulgent smile from his readers than make them bristle, for example here:
Probably, Watson, who might have used his years with Sherlock Holmes to hone his powers of observation, also overlooked the canopied moving stairs that lead from the ledge directly to a smokers鈥� lounge from which the detective was able to follow the aftermath of the Reichenbach Fall events? Be that as it may, Holmes and Watson are once again reunited and, since Watson鈥檚 wife Mary has deplorably died, or conveniently been abducted by aliens, or simply vanished into thin air 鈥� our narrator hardly thinks it worthwhile to let us in on that secret 鈥�, the two men take up lodgings once again at 221b Baker Street and embark on a series of adventures the first one of which is laying Moriarty鈥檚 right hand, Colonel Sebastian Moran, by the heels.
Thus Holmes to Watson in the course of their emotion-laden first encounter after such a long spell of time, and yes! most of the new cases collected in The Return of Sherlock Holmes are highly entertaining and may well surprise the first-time reader, and it is from this collection, as well as from its two predecessors, that most film adaptations draw their material. There are some sparkling highlights among them, such as The Adventure of the Solitary Cyclist or The Adventure of the Priory School, which are well-known to any one even slightly familiar with Sherlock Holmes. At times, however, Doyle also practises the art of recycling his old tricks as when, in The Adventure of the Norwood Builder, Holmes uses a controlled fire to solve his case, and what is good enough to baffle an extraordinary woman like Irene Adler will most certainly do its service to bring down a lesser criminal. The only thing that I found strange about this adventure is how the police could take charred rabbit bones for the remains of a human body 鈥� but if I remember correctly, Lestrade was on the case, and so again, it makes perfect sense. In one instance, namely The Adventure of the Six Napoleons, the parallel to an older case is so obvious 鈥� you surely remember the Christmas geese, don鈥檛 you? 鈥� that one may begin to fear that Doyle鈥檚 inventiveness was beginning to slacken, but these doubts are soon dispelled.
All in all, there are some very effective murder mysteries in this collection, my favourite being The Adventure of the Golden Pince-Nez, where Holmes gets a wonderful opportunity to show his skills of observation, deduction and, above all, setting traps. Other stories, like the one about Holmes鈥檚 encounter with the ruthless blackmailer Charles Augustus Milverton, an evil Mr. Pickwick, on the whole put our sleuth into the role of an observer. This story is remarkable nevertheless because it gives us a glimpse on the darker side of Sherlock Holmes 鈥� when, seeing the affair as 鈥漚 sporting duel between this fellow Milverton and [himself]鈥�, he ruthlessly engages himself to Milverton鈥檚 maid in order to win her confidence and gain access into her master鈥檚 well-guarded house. Watson utters his qualms about Holmes鈥檚 procedure but is rebuffed in this way:
Surely, such a degree of callous indifference to the feelings of a housemaid displays an unsettling streak of misogyny in Holmes鈥檚 character that should incur more censure from Watson. As usual, we also get a lot of hints at cases that didn鈥檛 find their way into Watson鈥檚 published collection but nevertheless have such an appetizing ring of mystery and oddness about them that we ardently wish someone would spread them before the public eye:
Just imagine what kind of man Wilson, the notorious canary-trainer, might have been, and what the canaries could have been trained at 鈥� theft, burglary, impersonation of bigger birds like Christmas geese? Interestingly, Doyle seems to have thought that The Return of Sherlock Holmes should have been his very last foray into the exciting professional life of Sherlock Holmes, because at the beginning of the last story, The Adventure of the Second Stain, Watson tells us that Holmes has by now retired from his work and become a beekeeper on the Sussex Downs and that at his express wish, Watson is to abstain from publishing further cases from his career. Still, we need not despair because, as history would show, Holmes had not done with Doyle yet.
In 1901 Arthur Conan Doyle heard about the legend of a ghostly hound haunting the marshes of Dartmoor, and he was so fascinated by this tale that he decided to turn it into a story about an old family curse. Originally, there was no talk of Sherlock Holmes in this context at first, but since it occurred to the writer that he would need the character of a detective in his tale to have the family mystery unravelled, Doyle made up his mind to reactivate Sherlock Holmes, a conclusion in which the prospect of increasing his royalty from the Strand Magazine might have had some little momentum. However, as readers knew 鈥� to their chagrin 鈥� Holmes had met the Grim Reaper in his final struggle with Professor Moriarty, and therefore Doyle set the story told in The Hound of the Baskervilles before the fatal duel between the master detective and the master scoundrel.
Some time later, though, Doyle gave in to further public demand for new Sherlock Holmes adventures, although before killing off his popular creation in the Reichenbach Falls he was sure that unless he killed Holmes, Holmes would sooner or later kill him. This time, however, it seemed impossible to have all the new cases take place before 1891, and so Doyle did something that is very familiar to watchers of modern soap operas: He undid the death of a character by retrospectively rewriting part of the story. As can be expected of Doyle, he was a little bit more imaginative than simply to claim that Watson had just dreamed Holmes鈥檚 death 鈥� a solution that would have laid itself open to troubling psychoanalytical interpretations, by the way 鈥�; instead, in the first story, The Empty House, we learn what really happened on that fateful day in Switzerland, and also why Holmes had chosen to pass for dead from 1891-94. Giving a credible account of how Holmes could have made his escape from the annoying scrape into which he was put by Moriarty, Doyle had to cheat a little bit by retrospectively altering decisive details given in Watson鈥檚 original account of the demise of Sherlock Holmes. All the same, he does it in a way that rather wrests an indulgent smile from his readers than make them bristle, for example here:
鈥濃€橧 stood up and examined the rocky wall behind me. In your picturesque account of the matter, which I read with great interest some months later, you assert that the wall was sheer. That was not literally true. A few small footholds presented themselves, and there was some indication of a ledge. [鈥鈥欌€�
Probably, Watson, who might have used his years with Sherlock Holmes to hone his powers of observation, also overlooked the canopied moving stairs that lead from the ledge directly to a smokers鈥� lounge from which the detective was able to follow the aftermath of the Reichenbach Fall events? Be that as it may, Holmes and Watson are once again reunited and, since Watson鈥檚 wife Mary has deplorably died, or conveniently been abducted by aliens, or simply vanished into thin air 鈥� our narrator hardly thinks it worthwhile to let us in on that secret 鈥�, the two men take up lodgings once again at 221b Baker Street and embark on a series of adventures the first one of which is laying Moriarty鈥檚 right hand, Colonel Sebastian Moran, by the heels.
鈥濃€橻鈥 We will see if my three years of absence have entirely taken away my power to surprise you.鈥欌€�
Thus Holmes to Watson in the course of their emotion-laden first encounter after such a long spell of time, and yes! most of the new cases collected in The Return of Sherlock Holmes are highly entertaining and may well surprise the first-time reader, and it is from this collection, as well as from its two predecessors, that most film adaptations draw their material. There are some sparkling highlights among them, such as The Adventure of the Solitary Cyclist or The Adventure of the Priory School, which are well-known to any one even slightly familiar with Sherlock Holmes. At times, however, Doyle also practises the art of recycling his old tricks as when, in The Adventure of the Norwood Builder, Holmes uses a controlled fire to solve his case, and what is good enough to baffle an extraordinary woman like Irene Adler will most certainly do its service to bring down a lesser criminal. The only thing that I found strange about this adventure is how the police could take charred rabbit bones for the remains of a human body 鈥� but if I remember correctly, Lestrade was on the case, and so again, it makes perfect sense. In one instance, namely The Adventure of the Six Napoleons, the parallel to an older case is so obvious 鈥� you surely remember the Christmas geese, don鈥檛 you? 鈥� that one may begin to fear that Doyle鈥檚 inventiveness was beginning to slacken, but these doubts are soon dispelled.
All in all, there are some very effective murder mysteries in this collection, my favourite being The Adventure of the Golden Pince-Nez, where Holmes gets a wonderful opportunity to show his skills of observation, deduction and, above all, setting traps. Other stories, like the one about Holmes鈥檚 encounter with the ruthless blackmailer Charles Augustus Milverton, an evil Mr. Pickwick, on the whole put our sleuth into the role of an observer. This story is remarkable nevertheless because it gives us a glimpse on the darker side of Sherlock Holmes 鈥� when, seeing the affair as 鈥漚 sporting duel between this fellow Milverton and [himself]鈥�, he ruthlessly engages himself to Milverton鈥檚 maid in order to win her confidence and gain access into her master鈥檚 well-guarded house. Watson utters his qualms about Holmes鈥檚 procedure but is rebuffed in this way:
鈥濃€橸ou can鈥檛 help it, my dear Watson. You must play your cards as best you can when such a stake is on the table. [鈥鈥欌€�
Surely, such a degree of callous indifference to the feelings of a housemaid displays an unsettling streak of misogyny in Holmes鈥檚 character that should incur more censure from Watson. As usual, we also get a lot of hints at cases that didn鈥檛 find their way into Watson鈥檚 published collection but nevertheless have such an appetizing ring of mystery and oddness about them that we ardently wish someone would spread them before the public eye:
鈥滻n this memorable year 鈥�95, a curious and incongruous succession of cases had engaged his attention, ranging from his famous investigation of the sudden death of Cardinal Tosca 鈥� an inquiry which was carried out by him at the express desire of His Holiness the Pope 鈥� down to his arrest of Wilson, the notorious canary-trainer, which removed a plague-spot from the East End of London.鈥�
Just imagine what kind of man Wilson, the notorious canary-trainer, might have been, and what the canaries could have been trained at 鈥� theft, burglary, impersonation of bigger birds like Christmas geese? Interestingly, Doyle seems to have thought that The Return of Sherlock Holmes should have been his very last foray into the exciting professional life of Sherlock Holmes, because at the beginning of the last story, The Adventure of the Second Stain, Watson tells us that Holmes has by now retired from his work and become a beekeeper on the Sussex Downs and that at his express wish, Watson is to abstain from publishing further cases from his career. Still, we need not despair because, as history would show, Holmes had not done with Doyle yet.
January 15, 2020
The men and women of victorian England went about wearing black armbands in mourning the death of fictional Sherlock Holmes after ACD's last story collection, which was meant to be the last.
The following Hound of the Baskervilles was not a true SH story insomuch as it was Watson's story. The world needed another collection, apparently.
If you read all the Sherlock Homles story collections in order and in a quick succession like I did, you'll tire out somewhat and distinguishing them all becomes hard. However, this collection is consistently good, but the different stories are indistinguishable and forgetable (to me).
So read this if you simply enjoy SH.
The following Hound of the Baskervilles was not a true SH story insomuch as it was Watson's story. The world needed another collection, apparently.
If you read all the Sherlock Homles story collections in order and in a quick succession like I did, you'll tire out somewhat and distinguishing them all becomes hard. However, this collection is consistently good, but the different stories are indistinguishable and forgetable (to me).
So read this if you simply enjoy SH.
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